Antisense modulation of interferon gamma receptor 2 expression

ABSTRACT

Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of Interferon gamma receptor 2 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2 are provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating the expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2. In particular, this invention relates to compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, specifically hybridizable with nucleic acids encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2. Such compounds have been shown to modulate the expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Cytokines are small to medium sized proteins and glycoproteins that mediate highly potent biological effects on many cell types in networks or cascades. They have critical roles in hematopoiesis, inflammatory responses and the development and maintenance of immune responses. Typical properties in networks of cytokines are pleiotropy, redundancy, synergistic activity and antagonistic effects upon each other (Townsend and McKenzie, J. Cell Sci., 2000, 113, 3549-3550). Knowledge of how cytokine networks are comprised and operate is important in understanding how they mediate their diverse effects on biological systems (Townsend and McKenzie, J. Cell Sci., 2000, 113, 3549-3550).

[0003] Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a cytokine secreted by activated T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. It is involved in the modulation of a wide variety of immunological and inflammatory responses including activation of macrophages, cytotoxic T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells, regulation of antibody production by B lymphocytes and control of apoptosis (Billiau, Adv. Immunol., 1996, 62, 61-130).

[0004] Interferon gamma receptor complexes are expressed on almost all nucleated cells and show species specificity in their ability to bind IFN-gamma (Dorman and Holland, Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 2000, 11, 321-333). The functional interferon gamma receptor is composed of two 90 kDa polypeptides designated interferon gamma receptor 1 (also known as IFNGR1, IFN-gamma receptor-alpha chain and CD119w) and interferon gamma receptor 2 (also known as IFNGR2, IFN-gamma receptor-beta, IFN-gamma transducer 1, AF-1 and GAF).

[0005] The extracellular portion of interferon gamma receptor 1 contains the IFN-gamma ligand-binding domain and the intracellular portion contains the domains necessary for signal transduction and receptor recycling (Dorman and Holland, Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 2000, 11, 321-333). In the absence of stimulation, interferon gamma receptors 1 and 2 are not strongly associated with each other. Upon binding of IFN-gamma as a homodimer to the two interferon gamma receptor 1 proteins, interferon gamma receptors 1 and 2 and their constitutively-associated Janus kinases (JAK1 and JAK2, respectively) are brought into proximity so that the signaling cascade can begin via phosphorylation of tyrosine-440 on interferon gamma receptor 1 (Dorman and Holland, Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 2000, 11, 321-333). Signals are transmitted to the nucleus via the Jak-STAT mechanism of signal transduction involving a cascade of tyrosine phopshorylations of STAT proteins (signal transducer and activator of transcription) in the cytoplasm.

[0006] Human interferon gamma receptor 2 has been localized to chromosome arm 21q, a region which is known to confer resistance to the encephalomyocarditis virus (Cook et al., J Biol Chem, 1994, 269, 7013-7018).

[0007] Complete absence of human IFN-gamma responsiveness due to a mutation in either interferon gamma receptor 1 or interferon gamma receptor 2 is typically associated with severe mycobacterial infections in lungs, viscera, lymph nodes, blood and bone marrow (Dorman and Holland, Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 2000, 11, 321-333). A clinical phenotype associated with autosomal dominant mutations of interferon gamma receptor 1 (leading to partial interferon gamma 1 deficiency is milder than seen in individuals with complete absence of IFN-gamma responsiveness and infections are usually responsive to appropriate antimicrobial therapy (Dorman and Holland, Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 2000, 11, 321-333).

[0008] The expression of the human interferon gamma receptor complex is modulated by environmental signals in human malignant T cells and thymocytes (Novelli et al., J. Immunol., 1994, 152, 496-504). The upregulation of IFN-gamma expression promotes T cell proliferation in T cells with low levels of interferon gamma receptor complex and apoptosis in T cells with high levels of interferon gamma receptor complex (Novelli et al., J. Immunol., 1994, 152, 496-504).

[0009] Although IFN-gamma signaling typically exerts antiviral effects, in some cases of bacterial infections, endogenous IFN-gamma can act as a detriment to the host. In the case of HIV infection, activation of monocytoid cells by IFN-gamma signaling was found to stimulate rather than inhibit virus replication (Biswas et al., J. Exp. Med., 1992, 176, 739-750).

[0010] In addition, there are conflicting reports on the effects of IFN-gamma signaling on tumor growth in mice. For example, investigators have inserted the IFN-gamma gene into non-immunogenic murine tumor cells with high metastasizing potential and found that the IFN-gamma secreting cells had less ability to develop tumors than the parental cells (Gansbacher et al., Cancer Res., 1990, 50, 7820-7825). On the other hand, a metastasizing murine mammary carcinoma productively transfected with the IFN-gamma gene was found to metastasize more extensively than the untransfected tumor line (Ferrantini et al., J. Immunol., 1994, 153, 4604-4615).

[0011] In experimental animal models of autoimmune disease including: autoimmune thyroiditis, experimental autoimmune peripheral neuritis and autoimmune insulin-dependent diabetes, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, autoimmune arthritis and autoimmune insulinitis, IFN-gamma was either found to facilitate induction of disease or to aggravate disease manifestations (Billiau, Adv. Immunol., 1996, 62, 61-130). Increased levels of IFN-gamma mRNA have been observed in intestinal propria lamina of Crohn's disease patients (Fais et al., J. Interferon Res., 1994, 14, 235-238).

[0012] Deregulation of IFN-gamma signaling has been implicated in autoimmune disease, complications due to viral infections and cancer. Furthermore, deregulated apoptosis signaling may impinge on other age-related disorders such as osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. Modulation of expression of components of the interferon gamma receptor complex, including interferon gamma receptor 2 may prove to be a useful strategy with which to down-regulate IFN-gamma signaling in cases where excessive signaling precipitates disease.

[0013] Attempts to modulate the process of IFN-gamma signaling have thus far been essentially limited to inhibition of IFN-gamma itself. Strategies aimed at inhibition of interferon gamma receptor 2 function are as yet untested as investigative or therapeutic protocols. Consequently there remains a long felt need for agents capable of effectively inhibiting interferon gamma receptor 2 function.

[0014] Antisense technology is emerging as an effective means for reducing the expression of specific gene products and may therefore prove to be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications for the modulation of interferon gamma receptor 2 expression.

[0015] The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating interferon gamma receptor 2 expression.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention is directed to compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, which are targeted to a nucleic acid encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2, and which modulate the expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2. Pharmaceutical and other compositions comprising the compounds of the invention are also provided. Further provided are methods of modulating the expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2 in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues with one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention. Further provided are methods of treating an animal, particularly a human, suspected of having or being prone to a disease or condition associated with expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2 by administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention employs oligomeric compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, for use in modulating the function of nucleic acid molecules encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2, ultimately modulating the amount of Interferon gamma receptor 2 produced. This is accomplished by providing antisense compounds which specifically hybridize with one or more nucleic acids encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2. As used herein, the terms “target nucleic acid” and “nucleic acid encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2” encompass DNA encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2, RNA (including pre-mRNA and mRNA) transcribed from such DNA, and also cDNA derived from such RNA. The specific hybridization of an oligomeric compound with its target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of the nucleic acid. This modulation of function of a target nucleic acid by compounds which specifically hybridize to it is generally referred to as “antisense”. The functions of DNA to be interfered with include replication and transcription. The functions of RNA to be interfered with include all vital functions such as, for example, translocation of the RNA to the site of protein translation, translation of protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNA species, and catalytic activity which may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA. The overall effect of such interference with target nucleic acid function is modulation of the expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2. In the context of the present invention, “modulation” means either an increase (stimulation) or a decrease (inhibition) in the expression of a gene. In the context of the present invention, inhibition is the preferred form of modulation of gene expression and mRNA is a preferred target.

[0018] It is preferred to target specific nucleic acids for antisense. “Targeting” an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid, in the context of this invention, is a multistep process. The process usually begins with the identification of a nucleic acid sequence whose function is to be modulated. This may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, or a nucleic acid molecule from an infectious agent. In the present invention, the target is a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2. The targeting process also includes determination of a site or sites within this gene for the antisense interaction to occur such that the desired effect, e.g., detection or modulation of expression of the protein, will result. Within the context of the present invention, a preferred intragenic site is the region encompassing the translation initiation or termination codon of the open reading frame (ORF) of the gene. Since, as is known in the art, the translation initiation codon is typically 5′-AUG (in transcribed mRNA molecules; 5′-ATG in the corresponding DNA molecule), the translation initiation codon is also referred to as the “AUG codon,” the “start codon” or the “AUG start codon”. A minority of genes have a translation initiation codon having the RNA sequence 5′-GUG, 5′-UUG or 5′-CUG, and 5′-AUA, 5′-ACG and 5′-CUG have been shown to function in vivo. Thus, the terms “translation initiation codon” and “start codon” can encompass many codon sequences, even though the initiator amino acid in each instance is typically methionine (in eukaryotes) or formylmethionine (in prokaryotes). It is also known in the art that eukaryotic and prokaryotic genes may have two or more alternative start codons, any one of which may be preferentially utilized for translation initiation in a particular cell type or tissue, or under a particular set of conditions. In the context of the invention, “start codon” and “translation initiation codon” refer to the codon or codons that are used in vivo to initiate translation of an mRNA molecule transcribed from a gene encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2, regardless of the sequence(s) of such codons.

[0019] It is also known in the art that a translation termination codon (or “stop codon”) of a gene may have one of three sequences, i.e., 5′-UAA, 5′-UAG and 5′-UGA (the corresponding DNA sequences are 5′-TAA, 5′-TAG and 5¹-TGA, respectively). The terms “start codon region” and “translation initiation codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation initiation codon. Similarly, the terms “stop codon region” and “translation termination codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation termination codon.

[0020] The open reading frame (ORF) or “coding region,” which is known in the art to refer to the region between the translation initiation codon and the translation termination codon, is also a region which may be targeted effectively. Other target regions include the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 5′ direction from the translation initiation codon, and thus including nucleotides between the 5′ cap site and the translation initiation codon of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene, and the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 3′ direction from the translation termination codon, and thus including nucleotides between the translation termination codon and 3′ end of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene. The 5′ cap of an mRNA comprises an N7-methylated guanosine residue joined to the 5′-most residue of the mRNA via a 5′-5′ triphosphate linkage. The 5′ cap region of an mRNA is considered to include the 5′ cap structure itself as well as the first 50 nucleotides adjacent to the cap. The 5′ cap region may also be a preferred target region.

[0021] Although some eukaryotic mRNA transcripts are directly translated, many contain one or more regions, known as “introns,” which are excised from a transcript before it is translated. The remaining (and therefore translated) regions are known as “exons” and are spliced together to form a continuous mRNA sequence. mRNA splice sites, i.e., intron-exon junctions, may also be preferred target regions, and are particularly useful in situations where aberrant splicing is implicated in disease, or where an overproduction of a particular mRNA splice product is implicated in disease. Aberrant fusion junctions due to rearrangements or deletions are also preferred targets. It has also been found that introns can also be effective, and therefore preferred, target regions for antisense compounds targeted, for example, to DNA or pre-mRNA.

[0022] Once one or more target sites have been identified, oligonucleotides are chosen which are sufficiently complementary to the target, i.e., hybridize sufficiently well and with sufficient specificity, to give the desired effect.

[0023] In the context of this invention, “hybridization” means hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleoside or nucleotide bases. For example, adenine and thymine are complementary nucleobases which pair through the formation of hydrogen bonds. “Complementary,” as used herein, refers to the capacity for precise pairing between two nucleotides. For example, if a nucleotide at a certain position of an oligonucleotide is capable of hydrogen bonding with a nucleotide at the same position of a DNA or RNA molecule, then the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are considered to be complementary to each other at that position. The oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are complementary to each other when a sufficient number of corresponding positions in each molecule are occupied by nucleotides which can hydrogen bond with each other. Thus, “specifically hybridizable” and “complementary” are terms which are used to indicate a sufficient degree of complementarity or precise pairing such that stable and specific binding occurs between the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA target. It is understood in the art that the sequence of an antisense compound need not be 100% complementary to that of its target nucleic acid to be specifically hybridizable. An antisense compound is specifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target DNA or RNA molecule interferes with the normal function of the target DNA or RNA to cause a loss of utility, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays or therapeutic treatment, and in the case of in vitro assays, under conditions in which the assays are performed.

[0024] Antisense and other compounds of the invention which hybridize to the target and inhibit expression of the target are identified through experimentation, and the sequences of these compounds are hereinbelow identified as preferred embodiments of the invention. The target sites to which these preferred sequences are complementary are hereinbelow referred to as “active sites” and are therefore preferred sites for targeting. Therefore another embodiment of the invention encompasses compounds which hybridize to these active sites.

[0025] Antisense compounds are commonly used as research reagents and diagnostics. For example, antisense oligonucleotides, which are able to inhibit gene expression with exquisite specificity, are often used by those of ordinary skill to elucidate the function of particular genes. Antisense compounds are also used, for example, to distinguish between functions of various members of a biological pathway. Antisense modulation has, therefore, been harnessed for research use.

[0026] For use in kits and diagnostics, the antisense compounds of the present invention, either alone or in combination with other antisense compounds or therapeutics, can be used as tools in differential and/or combinatorial analyses to elucidate expression patterns of a portion or the entire complement of genes expressed within cells and tissues.

[0027] Expression patterns within cells or tissues treated with one or more antisense compounds are compared to control cells or tissues not treated with antisense compounds and the patterns produced are analyzed for differential levels of gene expression as they pertain, for example, to disease association, signaling pathway, cellular localization, expression level, size, structure or function of the genes examined. These analyses can be performed on stimulated or unstimulated cells and in the presence or absence of other compounds which affect expression patterns.

[0028] Examples of methods of gene expression analysis known in the art include DNA arrays or microarrays (Brazma and Vilo, FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 17-24; Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16), SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression)(Madden, et al., Drug Discov. Today, 2000, 5, 415-425), READS (restriction enzyme amplification of digested cDNAs) (Prashar and Weissman, Methods Enzymol., 1999, 303, 258-72), TOGA (total gene expression analysis) (Sutcliffe, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 2000, 97, 1976-81), protein arrays and proteomics (Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Jungblut, et al., Electrophoresis, 1999, 20, 2100-10), expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing (Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Larsson, et al., J. Biotechnol., 2000, 80, 143-57), subtractive RNA fingerprinting (SuRF) (Fuchs, et al., Anal. Biochem., 2000, 286, 91-98; Larson, et al., Cytometry, 2000, 41, 203-208), subtractive cloning, differential display (DD) (Jurecic and Belmont, Curr. Opin. Microbiol., 2000, 3, 316-21), comparative genomic hybridization (Carulli, et al., J. Cell Biochem. Suppl., 1998, 31, 286-96), FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) techniques (Going and Gusterson, Eur. J. Cancer, 1999, 35, 1895-904) and mass spectrometry methods (reviewed in (To, Comb. Chem. High Throughput Screen, 2000, 3, 235-41).

[0029] The specificity and sensitivity of antisense is also harnessed by those of skill in the art for therapeutic uses. Antisense oligonucleotides have been employed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of disease states in animals and man. Antisense oligonucleotide drugs, including ribozymes, have been safely and effectively administered to humans and numerous clinical trials are presently underway. It is thus established that oligonucleotides can be useful therapeutic modalities that can be configured to be useful in treatment regimes for treatment of cells, tissues and animals, especially humans.

[0030] In the context of this invention, the term “oligonucleotide” refers to an oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or mimetics thereof. This term includes oligonucleotides composed of naturally-occurring nucleobases, sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone) linkages as well as oligonucleotides having non-naturally-occurring portions which function similarly. Such modified or substituted oligonucleotides are often preferred over native forms because of desirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for nucleic acid target and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.

[0031] While antisense oligonucleotides are a preferred form of antisense compound, the present invention comprehends other oligomeric antisense compounds, including but not limited to oligonucleotide mimetics such as are described below. The antisense compounds in accordance with this invention preferably comprise from about 8 to about 50 nucleobases (i.e. from about 8 to about 50 linked nucleosides). Particularly preferred antisense compounds are antisense oligonucleotides, even more preferably those comprising from about 12 to about 30 nucleobases. Antisense compounds include ribozymes, external guide sequence (EGS) oligonucleotides (oligozymes), and other short catalytic RNAs or catalytic oligonucleotides which hybridize to the target nucleic acid and modulate its expression.

[0032] As is known in the art, a nucleoside is a base-sugar combination. The base portion of the nucleoside is normally a heterocyclic base. The two most common classes of such heterocyclic bases are the purines; and the pyrimidines. Nucleotides are nucleosides that further include a phosphate group covalently linked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside. For those nucleosides that include a pentofuranosyl sugar, the phosphate group can be linked to either the 2′, 3′ or 5′ hydroxyl moiety of the sugar. In forming oligonucleotides, the phosphate groups covalently link adjacent nucleosides to one another to form a linear polymeric compound. In turn the respective ends of this linear polymeric structure can be further joined to form a circular structure, however, open linear structures are generally preferred. Within the oligonucleotide structure, the phosphate groups are commonly referred to as forming the internucleoside backbone of the oligonucleotide. The normal linkage or backbone of RNA and DNA is a 3′ to 5′ phosphodiester linkage.

[0033] Specific examples of preferred antisense compounds useful in this invention include oligonucleotides containing modified backbones or non-natural internucleoside linkages. As defined in this specification, oligonucleotides having modified backbones include those that retain a phosphorus atom in the backbone and those that do not have a phosphorus atom in the backbone. For the purposes of this specification, and as sometimes referenced in the art, modified oligonucleotides that do not have a phosphorus atom in their internucleoside backbone can also be considered to be oligonucleosides.

[0034] Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones include, for example, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphotriesters, aminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkyl phosphonates including 3′-alkylene phosphonates, 5′-alkylene phosphonates and chiral phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates including 3′-amino phosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates, thionoalkylphosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, selenophosphates and boranophosphates having normal 3′-5′ linkages, 2′-5′ linked analogs of these, and those having inverted polarity wherein one or more internucleotide linkages is a 3′ to 3′, 5′ to 5′ or 2′ to 2′ linkage. Preferred oligonucleotides having inverted polarity comprise a single 3′ to 3′ linkage at the 3′-most internucleotide linkage i.e. a single inverted nucleoside residue which may be abasic (the nucleobase is missing or has a hydroxyl group in place thereof). Various salts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

[0035] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of the above phosphorus-containing linkages include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,687,808; 4,469,863; 4,476,301; 5,023,243; 5,177,196; 5,188,897; 5,264,423; 5,276,019; 5,278,302; 5,286,717; 5,321,131; 5,399,676; 5,405,939; 5,453,496; 5,455,233; 5,466,677; 5,476,925; 5,519,126; 5,536,821; 5,541,306; 5,550,111; 5,563,253; 5,571,799; 5,587,361; 5,194,599; 5,565,555; 5,527,899; 5,721,218; 5,672,697 and 5,625,050, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0036] Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones that do not include a phosphorus atom therein have backbones that are formed by short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatom and alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or one or more short chain heteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages. These include those having morpholino linkages (formed in part from the sugar portion of a nucleoside); siloxane backbones; sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone backbones; formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; methylene formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; riboacetyl backbones; alkene containing backbones; sulfamate backbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones; sulfonate and sulfonamide backbones; amide backbones; and others having mixed N, O, S and CH₂ component parts.

[0037] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of the above oligonucleosides include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,214,134; 5,216,141; 5,235,033; 5,264,562; 5,264,564; 5,405,938; 5,434,257; 5,466,677; 5,470,967; 5,489,677; 5,541,307; 5,561,225; 5,596,086; 5,602,240; 5,610,289; 5,602,240; 5,608,046; 5,610,289; 5,618,704; 5,623,070; 5,663,312; 5,633,360; 5,677,437; 5,792,608; 5,646,269 and 5,677,439, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0038] In other preferred oligonucleotide mimetics, both the sugar and the internucleoside linkage, i.e., the backbone, of the nucleotide units are replaced with novel groups. The base units are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target compound. One such oligomeric compound, an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown to have excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar-backbone of an oligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, in particular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleobases are retained and are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amide portion of the backbone. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of PNA compounds include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. No.: 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. Further teaching of PNA compounds can be found in Nielsen et al., Science, 1991, 254, 1497-1500.

[0039] Most preferred embodiments of the invention are oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatom backbones, and in particular —CH₂—NH—O—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—O—CH₂— [known as a methylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone], —CH₂—O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—N(CH₃)—CH₂— and —O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂— [wherein the native phosphodiester backbone is represented as —O—P—O—CH₂—] of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,677, and the amide backbones of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,240. Also preferred are oligonucleotides having morpholino backbone structures of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,506.

[0040] Modified oligonucleotides may also contain one or more substituted sugar moieties. Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: OH; F; O—, S—, or N-alkyl; O—, S—, or N-alkenyl; O—, S— or N-alkynyl; or O-alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl or C₂ to C₁₀ alkenyl and alkynyl. Particularly preferred are O[(CH₂)_(n)O]_(m)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)OCH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)NH₂, O(CH₂)_(n)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)ONH₂, and O(CH₂)_(n)ON[(CH₂)_(n)CH₃)]₂, where n and m are from 1 to about 10. Other preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: C₁ to C₁₀ lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH, SCH₃, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, CF₃, OCF₃, SOCH₃, SO₂CH₃, ONO₂, NO₂, N₃, NH₂, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino, substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic properties of an oligonucleotide, and other substituents having similar properties. A preferred modification includes 2′-methoxyethoxy (2′-O—CH₂CH₂OCH₃, also known as 2¹-O-(2-methoxyethyl) or 2′-MOE) (Martin et al., Helv. Chim. Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504) i.e., an alkoxyalkoxy group. A further preferred modification includes 2′-dimethylaminooxyethoxy, i.e., a O(CH₂)₂ON(CH₃)₂ group, also known as 2′-DMAOE, as described in examples hereinbelow, and 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl or 2′-DMAEOE), i.e., 2′-O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₂)₂, also described in examples hereinbelow.

[0041] A further prefered modification includes Locked Nucleic Acids (LNAs) in which the 2′-hydroxyl group is linked to the 3′ or 4′ carbon atom of the sugar ring thereby forming a bicyclic sugar moiety. The linkage is preferably a methelyne (—CH₂—)_(n) group bridging the 2′ oxygen atom and the 4′ carbon atom wherein n is 1 or 2. LNAs and preparation thereof are described in WO 98/39352 and WO 99/14226.

[0042] Other preferred modifications include 2′-methoxy (2′-O—CH₃), 2′-aminopropoxy (2′-OCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂), 2′-allyl (2′-CH₂—CH═CH₂), 2′-O-allyl (2′-O—CH₂—CH═CH₂) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). The 2′-modification may be in the arabino (up) position or ribo (down) position. A preferred 2′-arabino modification is 2′-F. Similar modifications may also be made at other positions on the oligonucleotide, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′ terminal nucleotide or in 2′-5′ linked oligonucleotides and the 5′ position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. Oligonucleotides may also have sugar mimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosyl sugar. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such modified sugar structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,981,957; 5,118,800; 5,319,080; 5,359,044; 5,393,878; 5,446,137; 5,466,786; 5,514,785; 5,519,134; 5,567,811; 5,576,427; 5,591,722; 5,597,909; 5,610,300; 5,627,053; 5,639,873; 5,646,265; 5,658,873; 5,670,633; 5,792,747; and 5,700,920, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0043] Oligonucleotides may also include nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. As used herein, “unmodified” or “natural” nucleobases include the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U). Modified nucleobases include other synthetic and natural nucleobases such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl (—C≡C—CH₃) uracil and cytosine and other alkynyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and 7-methyladenine, 2-F-adenine, 2-amino-adenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine. Further modified nucleobases include tricyclic pyrimidines such as phenoxazine cytidine(1H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), phenothiazine cytidine (1H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzothiazin-2(3H)-one), G-clamps such as a substituted phenoxazine cytidine (e.g. 9-(2-aminoethoxy)-H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), carbazole cytidine (2H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indol-2-one), pyridoindole cytidine (H-pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-one). Modified nucleobases may also include those in which the purine or pyrimidine base is replaced with other heterocycles, for example 7-deaza-adenine, 7-deazaguanosine, 2-aminopyridine and 2-pyridone. Further nucleobases include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, those disclosed in The Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering, pages 858-859, Kroschwitz, J. I., ed. John Wiley & Sons, 1990, those disclosed by Englisch et al., Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 1991, 30, 613, and those disclosed by Sanghvi, Y. S., Chapter 15, Antisense Research and Applications, pages 289-302, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., ed., CRC Press, 1993. Certain of these nucleobases are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of the oligomeric compounds of the invention. These include 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and O-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. (Sanghvi, Y. S., Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., eds., Antisense Research and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278) and are presently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly when combined with 21-O-methoxyethyl sugar modifications.

[0044] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of certain of the above noted modified nucleobases as well as other modified nucleobases include, but are not limited to, the above noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, as well as U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,845,205; 5,130,302; 5,134,066; 5,175,273; 5,367,066; 5,432,272; 5,457,187; 5,459,255; 5,484,908; 5,502,177; 5,525,711; 5,552,540; 5,587,469; 5,594,121, 5,596,091; 5,614,617; 5,645,985; 5,830,653; 5,763,588; 6,005,096; and 5,681,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,692, which is commonly owned with the instant application and also herein incorporated by reference.

[0045] Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involves chemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties or conjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. The compounds of the invention can include conjugate groups covalently bound to functional groups such as primary or secondary hydroxyl groups. Conjugate groups of the invention include intercalators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethylene glycols, polyethers, groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties of oligomers, and groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of oligomers. Typical conjugates groups include cholesterols, lipids, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, folate, phenanthridine, anthraquinone, acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes. Groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties, in the context of this invention, include groups that improve oligomer uptake, enhance oligomer resistance to degradation, and/or strengthen sequence-specific hybridization with RNA. Groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties, in the context of this invention, include groups that improve oligomer uptake, distribution, metabolism or excretion. Representative conjugate groups are disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/US92/09196, filed Oct. 23, 1992 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Conjugate moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86, 6553-6556), cholic acid (Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1994, 4, 1053-1060), a thioether, e.g., hexyl-S--tritylthiol (Manoharan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1992, 660, 306-309; Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1993, 3, 2765-2770), a thiocholesterol (Oberhauser et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1992, 20, 533-538), an aliphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues (Saison-Behmoaras et al., EMBO J., 1991, 10, 1111-1118; Kabanov et al., FEBS Lett., 1990, 259, 327-330; Svinarchuk et al., Biochimie, 1993, 75, 49-54), a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethyl-ammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654; Shea et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1990, 18, 3777-3783), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (Manoharan et al., Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1995, 14, 969-973), or adamantane acetic acid (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654), a palmityl moiety (Mishra et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1995, 1264, 229-237), or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety (Crooke et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1996, 277, 923-937. Oligonucleotides of the invention may also be conjugated to active drug substances, for example, aspirin, warfarin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen, suprofen, fenbufen, ketoprofen, (S)-(+)-pranoprofen, carprofen, dansylsarcosine, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, flufenamic acid, folinic acid, a benzothiadiazide, chlorothiazide, a diazepine, indomethicin, a barbiturate, a cephalosporin, a sulfa drug, an antidiabetic, an antibacterial or an antibiotic. Oligonucleotide-drug conjugates and their preparation are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/334,130 (filed Jun. 15, 1999) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0046] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such oligonucleotide conjugates include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730; 5,552,538; 5,578,717, 5,580,731; 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124; 5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718; 5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737; 4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,245,022; 5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098; 5,371,241, 5,391,723; 5,416,203, 5,451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667; 5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585,481; 5,587,371; 5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0047] It is not necessary for all positions in a given compound to be uniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementioned modifications may be incorporated in a single compound or even at a single nucleoside within an oligonucleotide. The present invention also includes antisense compounds which are chimeric compounds. “Chimeric” antisense compounds or “chimeras,” in the context of this invention, are antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide in the case of an oligonucleotide compound. These oligonucleotides typically contain at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide is modified so as to confer upon the oligonucleotide increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, and/or increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid. An additional region of the oligonucleotide may serve as a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNA hybrids. By way of example, RNase H is a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of oligonucleotide inhibition of gene expression. Consequently, comparable results can often be obtained with shorter oligonucleotides when chimeric oligonucleotides are used, compared to phosphorothioate deoxyoligonucleotides hybridizing to the same target region. Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gel electrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridization techniques known in the art.

[0048] Chimeric antisense compounds of the invention may be formed as composite structures of two or more oligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides and/or oligonucleotide mimetics as described above. Such compounds have also been referred to in the art as hybrids or gapmers. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such hybrid structures include, but are not limited to, U.S.: 5,013,830; 5,149,797; 5,220,007; 5,256,775; 5,366,878; 5,403,711; 5,491,133; 5,565,350; 5,623,065; 5,652,355; 5,652,356; and 5,700,922, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0049] The antisense compounds used in accordance with this invention may be conveniently and routinely made through the well-known technique of solid phase synthesis. Equipment for such synthesis is sold by several vendors including, for example, Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.). Any other means for such synthesis known in the art may additionally or alternatively be employed. It is well known to use similar techniques to prepare oligonucleotides such as the phosphorothioates and alkylated derivatives.

[0050] The antisense compounds of the invention are synthesized in vitro and do not include antisense compositions of biological origin, or genetic vector constructs designed to direct the in vivo synthesis of antisense molecules. The compounds of the invention may also be admixed, encapsulated, conjugated or otherwise associated with other molecules, molecule structures or mixtures of compounds, as for example, liposomes, receptor targeted molecules, oral, rectal, topical or other formulations, for assisting in uptake, distribution and/or absorption. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such uptake, distribution and/or absorption assisting formulations include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,108,921; 5,354,844; 5,416,016; 5,459,127; 5,521,291; 5,543,158; 5,547,932; 5,583,020; 5,591,721; 4,426,330; 4.,534,899; 5,013,556; 5,108,921; 5,213,804; 5,227,170; 5,264,221; 5,356,633; 5,395,619; 5,416,016; 5,417,978; 5,462,854; 5,469,854; 5,512,295; 5,527,528; 5,534,259; 5,543,152; 5,556,948; 5,580,575; and 5,595,756, each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0051] The antisense compounds of the invention encompass any pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other compound which, upon administration to an animal including a human, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metabolite or residue thereof. Accordingly, for example, the disclosure is also drawn to prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such prodrugs, and other bioequivalents.

[0052] The term “prodrug” indicates a therapeutic agent that is prepared in an inactive form that is converted to an active form (i.e., drug) within the body or cells thereof by the action of endogenous enzymes or other chemicals and/or conditions. In particular, prodrug versions of the oligonucleotides of the invention are prepared as SATE [(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl) phosphate] derivatives according to the methods disclosed in WO 93/24510 to Gosselin et al., published Dec. 9, 1993 or in WO 94/26764 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,713 to Imbach et al.

[0053] The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to physiologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention: i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parent compound and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto.

[0054] Pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts are formed with metals or amines, such as alkali and alkaline earth metals or organic amines. Examples of metals used as cations are sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and the like. Examples of suitable amines are N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, dicyclohexylamine, ethylenediamine, N-methylglucamine, and procaine (see, for example, Berge et al., “Pharmaceutical Salts,” J. of Pharma Sci., 1977, 66, 1-19). The base addition salts of said acidic compounds are prepared by contacting the free acid form with a sufficient amount of the desired base to produce the salt in the conventional manner. The free acid form may be regenerated by contacting the salt form with an acid and isolating the free acid in the conventional manner. The free acid forms differ from their respective salt forms somewhat in certain physical properties such as solubility in polar solvents, but otherwise the salts are equivalent to their respective free acid for purposes of the present invention. As used herein, a “pharmaceutical addition salt” includes a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of an acid form of one of the components of the compositions of the invention. These include organic or inorganic acid salts of the amines. Preferred acid salts are the hydrochlorides, acetates, salicylates, nitrates and phosphates. Other suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known to those skilled in the art and include basic salts of a variety of inorganic and organic acids, such as, for example, with inorganic acids, such as for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid; with organic carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfo or phospho acids or N-substituted sulfamic acids, for example acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, hydroxymaleic acid, methylmaleic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, gluconic acid, glucaric acid, glucuronic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, 2-phenoxybenzoic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid, embonic acid, nicotinic acid or isonicotinic acid; and with amino acids, such as the 20 alpha-amino acids involved in the synthesis of proteins in nature, for example glutamic acid or aspartic acid, and also with phenylacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, ethane-1,2-disulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, 4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid, naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, naphthalene-1,5-disulfonic acid, 2- or 3-phosphoglycerate, glucose-6-phosphate, N-cyclohexylsulfamic acid (with the formation of cyclamates), or with other acid organic compounds, such as ascorbic acid. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds may also be prepared with a pharmaceutically acceptable cation. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable cations are well known to those skilled in the art and include alkaline, alkaline earth, ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations. Carbonates or hydrogen carbonates are also possible.

[0055] For oligonucleotides, preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include but are not limited to (a) salts formed with cations such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, polyamines such as spermine and spermidine, etc.; (b) acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids, for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and the like; (c) salts formed with organic acids such as, for example, acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, citric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tannic acid, palmitic acid, alginic acid, polyglutamic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, naphthalenedisulfonic acid, polygalacturonic acid, and the like; and (d) salts formed from elemental anions such as chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

[0056] The antisense compounds of the present invention can be utilized for diagnostics, therapeutics, prophylaxis and as research reagents and kits. For therapeutics, an animal, preferably a human, suspected of having a disease or disorder which can be treated by modulating the expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2 is treated by administering antisense compounds in accordance with this invention. The compounds of the invention can be utilized in pharmaceutical compositions by adding an effective amount of an antisense compound to a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. Use of the antisense compounds and methods of the invention may also be useful prophylactically, e.g., to prevent or delay infection, inflammation or tumor formation, for example.

[0057] The antisense compounds of the invention are useful for research and diagnostics, because these compounds hybridize to nucleic acids encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2, enabling sandwich and other assays to easily be constructed to exploit this fact. Hybridization of the antisense oligonucleotides of the invention with a nucleic acid encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2 can be detected by means known in the art. Such means may include conjugation of an enzyme to the oligonucleotide, radiolabelling of the oligonucleotide or any other suitable detection means. Kits using such detection means for detecting the level of Interferon gamma receptor 2 in a sample may also be prepared.

[0058] The present invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions and formulations which include the antisense compounds of the invention. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginal and rectal delivery), pulmonary, e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral. Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial, e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration. Oligonucleotides with at least one 2′-O-methoxyethyl modification are believed to be particularly useful for oral administration.

[0059] Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable. Coated condoms, gloves and the like may also be useful. Preferred topical formulations include those in which the oligonucleotides of the invention are in admixture with a topical delivery agent such as lipids, liposomes, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, steroids, chelating agents and surfactants. Preferred lipids and liposomes include neutral (e.g. dioleoylphosphatidyl DOPE ethanolamine, dimyristoylphosphatidyl choline DMPC, distearolyphosphatidyl choline) negative (e.g. dimyristoylphosphatidyl glycerol DMPG) and cationic (e.g. dioleoyltetramethylaminopropyl DOTAP and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine DOTMA). Oligonucleotides of the invention may be encapsulated within liposomes or may form complexes thereto, in particular to cationic liposomes. Alternatively, oligonucleotides may be complexed to lipids, in particular to cationic lipids. Preferred fatty acids and esters include but are not limited arachidonic acid, oleic acid, eicosanoic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein, dilaurin, glyceryl 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, an acylcarnitine, an acylcholine, or a C₁₋₁₀ alkyl ester (e.g. isopropylmyristate IPM), monoglyceride, diglyceride or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Topical formulations are described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,298 filed on May 20, 1999 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0060] Compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, microparticulates, nanoparticulates, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, gel capsules, sachets, tablets or minitablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers, dispersing aids or binders may be desirable. Preferred oral formulations are those in which oligonucleotides of the invention are administered in conjunction with one or more penetration enhancers surfactants and chelators. Preferred surfactants include fatty acids and/or esters or salts thereof, bile acids and/or salts thereof. Prefered bile acids/salts include chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxychenodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), cholic acid, dehydrocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, glucholic acid, glycholic acid, glycodeoxycholic acid, taurocholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, sodium tauro-24,25-dihydro-fusidate, sodium glycodihydrofusidate. Prefered fatty acids include arachidonic acid, undecanoic acid, oleic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein, dilaurin, glyceryl 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, an acylcarnitine, an acylcholine, or a monoglyceride, a diglyceride or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (e.g. sodium). Also prefered are combinations of penetration enhancers, for example, fatty acids/salts in combination with bile acids/salts. A particularly prefered combination is the sodium salt of lauric acid, capric acid and UDCA. Further penetration enhancers include polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether. Oligonucleotides of the invention may be delivered orally in granular form including sprayed dried particles, or complexed to form micro or nanoparticles. Oligonucleotide complexing agents include poly-amino acids; polyimines; polyacrylates; polyalkylacrylates, polyoxethanes, polyalkylcyanoacrylates; cationized gelatins, albumins, starches, acrylates, polyethyleneglycols (PEG) and starches; polyalkylcyanoacrylates; DEAE-derivatized polyimines, pollulans, celluloses and starches. Particularly preferred complexing agents include chitosan, N-trimethylchitosan, poly-L-lysine, polyhistidine, polyornithine, polyspermines, protamine, polyvinylpyridine, polythiodiethylamino-methylethylene P(TDAE), polyaminostyrene (e.g. p-amino), poly(methylcyanoacrylate), poly(ethylcyanoacrylate), poly(butylcyanoacrylate), poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate), poly(isohexylcynaoacrylate), DEAE-methacrylate, DEAE-hexylacrylate, DEAE-acrylamide, D]3AE-albumin and DEAE-dextran, polymethylacrylate, polyhexylacrylate, poly(D,L-lactic acid), poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), alginate, and polyethyleneglycol (PEG). Oral formulations for oligonucleotides and their preparation are described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/886,829 (filed Jul. 1, 1997), 09/108,673 (filed Jul. 1, 1998), 09/256,515 (filed Feb. 23, 1999), 09/082,624 (filed May 21, 1998) and 09/315,298 (filed May 20, 1999) each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0061] Compositions and formulations for parenteral, intrathecal or intraventricular administration may include sterile aqueous solutions which may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives such as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compounds and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

[0062] Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, solutions, emulsions, and liposome-containing formulations. These compositions may be generated from a variety of components that include, but are not limited to, preformed liquids, self-emulsifying solids and self-emulsifying semisolids.

[0063] The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention, which may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form, may be prepared according to conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

[0064] The compositions of the present invention may be formulated into any of many possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets, capsules, gel capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, and enemas. The compositions of the present invention may also be formulated as suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media. Aqueous suspensions may further contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

[0065] In one embodiment of the present invention the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated and used as foams. Pharmaceutical foams include formulations such as, but not limited to, emulsions, microemulsions, creams, jellies and liposomes. While basically similar in nature these formulations vary in the components and the consistency of the final product. The preparation of such compositions and formulations is generally known to those skilled in the pharmaceutical and formulation arts and may be applied to the formulation of the compositions of the present invention.

[0066] Emulsions

[0067] The compositions of the present invention may be prepared and formulated as emulsions. Emulsions are typically heterogenous systems of one liquid dispersed in another in the form of droplets usually exceeding 0.1 μm in diameter. (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199; Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., Volume 1, p. 245; Block in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 2, p. 335; Higuchi et al., in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 301). Emulsions are often biphasic systems comprising of two immiscible liquid phases intimately mixed and dispersed with each other. In general, emulsions may be either water-in-oil (w/o) or of the oil-in-water (o/w) variety. When an aqueous phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk oily phase the resulting composition is called a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion. Alternatively, when an oily phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk aqueous phase the resulting composition is called an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion. Emulsions may contain additional components in addition to the dispersed phases and the active drug which may be present as a solution in either the aqueous phase, oily phase or itself as a separate phase. Pharmaceutical excipients such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, dyes, and anti-oxidants may also be present in emulsions as needed. Pharmaceutical emulsions may also be multiple emulsions that are comprised of more than two phases such as, for example, in the case of oil-in-water-in-oil (o/w/o) and water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsions. Such complex formulations often provide certain advantages that simple binary emulsions do not. Multiple emulsions in which individual oil droplets of an o/w emulsion enclose small water droplets constitute a w/o/w emulsion. Likewise a system of oil droplets enclosed in globules of water stabilized in an oily continuous provides an o/w/o emulsion.

[0068] Emulsions are characterized by little or no thermodynamic stability. Often, the dispersed or discontinuous phase of the emulsion is well dispersed into the external or continuous phase and maintained in this form through the means of emulsifiers or the viscosity of the formulation. Either of the phases of the emulsion may be a semisolid or a solid, as is the case of emulsion-style ointment bases and creams. Other means of stabilizing emulsions entail the use of emulsifiers that may be incorporated into either phase of the emulsion. Emulsifiers may broadly be classified into four categories: synthetic surfactants, naturally occurring emulsifiers, absorption bases, and finely dispersed solids (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199).

[0069] Synthetic surfactants, also known as surface active agents, have found wide applicability in the formulation of emulsions and have been reviewed in the literature (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 285; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, volume 1, p. 199). Surfactants are typically amphiphilic and comprise a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic portion. The ratio of the hydrophilic to the hydrophobic nature of the surfactant has been termed the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) and is a valuable tool in categorizing and selecting surfactants in the preparation of formulations. Surfactants may be classified into different classes based on the nature of the hydrophilic group: nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 285).

[0070] Naturally occurring emulsifiers used in emulsion formulations include lanolin, beeswax, phosphatides, lecithin and acacia. Absorption bases possess hydrophilic properties such that they can soak up water to form w/o emulsions yet retain their semisolid consistencies, such as anhydrous lanolin and hydrophilic petrolatum. Finely divided solids have also been used as good emulsifiers especially in combination with surfactants and in viscous preparations. These include polar inorganic solids, such as heavy metal hydroxides, nonswelling clays such as bentonite, attapulgite, hectorite, kaolin, montmorillonite, colloidal aluminum silicate and colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate, pigments and nonpolar solids such as carbon or glyceryl tristearate.

[0071] A large variety of non-emulsifying materials are also included in emulsion formulations and contribute to the properties of emulsions. These include fats, oils, waxes, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty esters, humectants, hydrophilic colloids, preservatives and antioxidants (Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199).

[0072] Hydrophilic colloids or hydrocolloids include naturally occurring gums and synthetic polymers such as polysaccharides (for example, acacia, agar, alginic acid, carrageenan, guar gum, karaya gum, and tragacanth), cellulose derivatives (for example, carboxymethylcellulose and carboxypropylcellulose), and synthetic polymers (for example, carbomers, cellulose ethers, and carboxyvinyl polymers). These disperse or swell in water to form colloidal solutions that stabilize emulsions by forming strong interfacial films around the dispersed-phase droplets and by increasing the viscosity of the external phase.

[0073] Since emulsions often contain a number of ingredients such as carbohydrates, proteins, sterols and phosphatides that may readily support the growth of microbes, these formulations often incorporate preservatives. Commonly used preservatives included in emulsion formulations include methyl paraben, propyl paraben, quaternary ammonium salts, benzalkonium chloride, esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and boric acid. Antioxidants are also commonly added to emulsion formulations to prevent deterioration of the formulation. Antioxidants used may be free radical scavengers such as tocopherols, alkyl gallates, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, or reducing agents such as ascorbic acid and sodium metabisulfite, and antioxidant synergists such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and lecithin.

[0074] The application of emulsion formulations via dermatological, oral and parenteral routes and methods for their manufacture have been reviewed in the literature (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199). Emulsion formulations for oral delivery have been very widely used because of reasons of ease of formulation, efficacy from an absorption and bioavailability standpoint. (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199). Mineral-oil base laxatives, oil-soluble vitamins and high fat nutritive preparations are among the materials that have commonly been administered orally as o/w emulsions.

[0075] In one embodiment of the present invention, the compositions of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids are formulated as microemulsions. A microemulsion may be defined as a system of water, oil and amphiphile which is a single optically isotropic and thermodynamically stable liquid solution (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245). Typically microemulsions are systems that are prepared by first dispersing an oil in an aqueous surfactant solution and then adding a sufficient amount of a fourth component, generally an intermediate chain-length alcohol to form a transparent system. Therefore, microemulsions have also been described as thermodynamically stable, isotropically clear dispersions of two immiscible liquids that are stabilized by interfacial films of surface-active molecules (Leung and Shah, in: Controlled Release of Drugs: Polymers and Aggregate Systems, Rosoff, M., Ed., 1989, VCH Publishers, New York, pages 185-215). Microemulsions commonly are prepared via a combination of three to five components that include oil, water, surfactant, cosurfactant and electrolyte. Whether the microemulsion is of the water-in-oil (w/o) or an oil-in-water (o/w) type is dependent on the properties of the oil and surfactant used and on the structure and geometric packing of the polar heads and hydrocarbon tails of the surfactant molecules (Schott, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 271).

[0076] The phenomenological approach utilizing phase diagrams has been extensively studied and has yielded a comprehensive knowledge, to one skilled in the art, of how to formulate microemulsions (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245; Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335). Compared to conventional emulsions, microemulsions offer the advantage of solubilizing water-insoluble drugs in a formulation of thermodynamically stable droplets that are formed spontaneously.

[0077] Surfactants used in the preparation of microemulsions include, but are not limited to, ionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, Brij 96, polyoxyethylene oleyl ethers, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, tetraglycerol monolaurate (ML310), tetraglycerol monooleate (MO310), hexaglycerol monooleate (PO310), hexaglycerol pentaoleate (PO500), decaglycerol monocaprate (MCA750), decaglycerol monooleate (MO750), decaglycerol sequioleate (SO750), decaglycerol decaoleate (DAO750), alone or in combination with cosurfactants. The cosurfactant, usually a short-chain alcohol such as ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol, serves to increase the interfacial fluidity by penetrating into the surfactant film and consequently creating a disordered film because of the void space generated among surfactant molecules. Microemulsions may, however, be prepared without the use of cosurfactants and alcohol-free self-emulsifying microemulsion systems are known in the art. The aqueous phase may typically be, but is not limited to, water, an aqueous solution of the drug, glycerol, PEG300, PEG400, polyglycerols, propylene glycols, and derivatives of ethylene glycol. The oil phase may include, but is not limited to, materials such as Captex 300, Captex 355, Capmul MCM, fatty acid esters, medium chain (C8-C12) mono, di, and tri-glycerides, polyoxyethylated glyceryl fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, polyglycolized glycerides, saturated polyglycolized C8-C10 glycerides, vegetable oils and silicone oil.

[0078] Microemulsions are particularly of interest from the standpoint of drug solubilization and the enhanced absorption of drugs. Lipid based microemulsions (both o/w and w/o) have been proposed to enhance the oral bioavailability of drugs, including peptides (Constantinides et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11, 1385-1390; Ritschel, Meth. Find. Exp. Clin. Pharmacol., 1993, 13, 205). Microemulsions afford advantages of improved drug solubilization, protection of drug from enzymatic hydrolysis, possible enhancement of drug absorption due to surfactant-induced alterations in membrane fluidity and permeability, ease of preparation, ease of oral administration over solid dosage forms, improved clinical potency, and decreased toxicity (Constantinides et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11, 1385; Ho et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1996, 85, 138-143). Often microemulsions may form spontaneously when their components are brought together at ambient temperature. This may be particularly advantageous when formulating thermolabile drugs, peptides or oligonucleotides. Microemulsions have also been effective in the transdermal delivery of active components in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. It is expected that the microemulsion compositions and formulations of the present invention will facilitate the increased systemic absorption of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as improve the local cellular uptake of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids within the gastrointestinal tract, vagina, buccal cavity and other areas of administration.

[0079] Microemulsions of the present invention may also contain additional components and additives such as sorbitan monostearate (Grill 3), Labrasol, and penetration enhancers to improve the properties of the formulation and to enhance the absorption of the oligonucleotides and nucleic acids of the present invention. Penetration enhancers used in the microemulsions of the present invention may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories—surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p. 92). Each of these classes has been discussed above.

[0080] Liposomes

[0081] There are many organized surfactant structures besides microemulsions that have been studied and used for the formulation of drugs. These include monolayers, micelles, bilayers and vesicles. Vesicles, such as liposomes, have attracted great interest because of their specificity and the duration of action they offer from the standpoint of drug delivery. As used in the present invention, the term “liposomell means a vesicle composed of amphiphilic lipids arranged in a spherical bilayer or bilayers.

[0082] Liposomes are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which have a membrane formed from a lipophilic material and an aqueous interior. The aqueous portion contains the composition to be delivered. Cationic liposomes possess the advantage of being able to fuse to the cell wall. Non-cationic liposomes, although not able to fuse as efficiently with the cell wall, are taken up by macrophages in vivo.

[0083] In order to cross intact mammalian skin, lipid vesicles must pass through a series of fine pores, each with a diameter less than 50 nm, under the influence of a suitable transdermal gradient. Therefore, it is desirable to use a liposome which is highly deformable and able to pass through such fine pores.

[0084] Further advantages of liposomes include; liposomes obtained from natural phospholipids are biocompatible and biodegradable; liposomes can incorporate a wide range of water and lipid soluble drugs; liposomes can protect encapsulated drugs in their internal compartments from metabolism and degradation (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245). Important considerations in the preparation of liposome formulations are the lipid surface charge, vesicle size and the aqueous volume of the liposomes.

[0085] Liposomes are useful for the transfer and delivery of active ingredients to the site of action. Because the liposomal membrane is structurally similar to biological membranes, when liposomes are applied to a tissue, the liposomes start to merge with the cellular membranes. As the merging of the liposome and cell progresses, the liposomal contents are emptied into the cell where the active agent may act.

[0086] Liposomal formulations have been the focus of extensive investigation as the mode of delivery for many drugs. There is growing evidence that for topical administration, liposomes present several advantages over other formulations. Such advantages include reduced side-effects related to high systemic absorption of the administered drug, increased accumulation of the administered drug at the desired target, and the ability to administer a wide variety of drugs, both hydrophilic and hydrophobic, into the skin.

[0087] Several reports have detailed the ability of liposomes to deliver agents including high-molecular weight DNA into the skin. Compounds including analgesics, antibodies, hormones and high-molecular weight DNAs have been administered to the skin. The majority of applications resulted in the targeting of the upper epidermis.

[0088] Liposomes fall into two broad classes. Cationic liposomes are positively charged liposomes which interact with the negatively charged DNA molecules to form a stable complex. The positively charged DNA/liposome complex binds to the negatively charged cell surface and is internalized in an endosome. Due to the acidic pH within the endosome, the liposomes are ruptured, releasing their contents into the cell cytoplasm (Wang et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1987, 147, 980-985).

[0089] Liposomes which are pH-sensitive or negatively-charged, entrap DNA rather than complex with it. Since both the DNA and the lipid are similarly charged, repulsion rather than complex formation occurs. Nevertheless, some DNA is entrapped within the aqueous interior of these liposomes. pH-sensitive liposomes have been used to deliver DNA encoding the thymidine kinase gene to cell monolayers in culture. Expression of the exogenous gene was detected in the target cells (Zhou et al., Journal of Controlled Release, 1992, 19, 269-274).

[0090] One major type of liposomal composition includes phospholipids other than naturally-derived phosphatidylcholine. Neutral liposome compositions, for example, can be formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC). Anionic liposome compositions generally are formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol, while anionic fusogenic liposomes are formed primarily from dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Another type of liposomal composition is formed from phosphatidylcholine (PC) such as, for example, soybean PC, and egg PC. Another type is formed from mixtures of phospholipid and/or phosphatidylcholine and/or cholesterol.

[0091] Several studies have assessed the topical delivery of liposomal drug formulations to the skin. Application of liposomes containing interferon to guinea pig skin resulted in a reduction of skin herpes sores while delivery of interferon via other means (e.g. as a solution or as an emulsion) were ineffective (Weiner et al., Journal of Drug Targeting, 1992, 2, 405-410). Further, an additional study tested the efficacy of interferon administered as part of a liposomal formulation to the administration of interferon using an aqueous system, and concluded that the liposomal formulation was superior to aqueous administration (du Plessis et al., Antiviral Research, 1992, 18, 259-265).

[0092] Non-ionic liposomal systems have also been examined to determine their utility in the delivery of drugs to the skin, in particular systems comprising non-ionic surfactant and cholesterol. Non-ionic liposomal formulations comprising Novasome™ I (glyceryl dilaurate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) and Novasome™ II (glyceryl distearate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) were used to deliver cyclosporin-A into the dermis of mouse skin. Results indicated that such non-ionic liposomal systems were effective in facilitating the deposition of cyclosporin-A into different layers of the skin (Hu et al. S.T.P.Pharma. Sci., 1994, 4, 6, 466).

[0093] Liposomes also include “sterically stabilized” liposomes, a term which, as used herein, refers to liposomes comprising one or more specialized lipids that, when incorporated into liposomes, result in enhanced circulation lifetimes relative to liposomes lacking such specialized lipids. Examples of sterically stabilized liposomes are those in which part of the vesicle-forming lipid portion of the liposome (A) comprises one or more glycolipids, such as monosialoganglioside G_(M1), or (B) is derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, such as a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is thought in the art that, at least for sterically stabilized liposomes containing gangliosides, sphingomyelin, or PEG-derivatized lipids, the enhanced circulation half-life of these sterically stabilized liposomes derives from a reduced uptake into cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) (Allen et al., FEBS Letters, 1987, 223, 42; Wu et al., Cancer Research, 1993, 53, 3765).

[0094] Various liposomes comprising one or more glycolipids are known in the art. Papahadjopoulos et al. (Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1987, 507, 64) reported the ability of monosialoganglioside G_(M1), galactocerebroside sulfate and phosphatidylinositol to improve blood half-lives of liposomes. These findings were expounded upon by Gabizon et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1988, 85, 6949). U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,028 and WO 88/04924, both to Allen et al., disclose liposomes comprising (1) sphingomyelin and (2) the ganglioside G_(M1) or a galactocerebroside sulfate ester. U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,152 (Webb et al.) discloses liposomes comprising sphingomyelin. Liposomes comprising 1,2-sn-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine are disclosed in WO 97/13499 (Lim et al.).

[0095] Many liposomes comprising lipids derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, and methods of preparation thereof, are known in the art. Sunamoto et al. (Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 1980, 53, 2778) described liposomes comprising a nonionic detergent, 2C₁₂15G, that contains a PEG moiety. Illum et al. (FEBS Lett., 1984, 167, 79) noted that hydrophilic coating of polystyrene particles with polymeric glycols results in significantly enhanced blood half-lives. Synthetic phospholipids modified by the attachment of carboxylic groups of polyalkylene glycols (e.g., PEG) are described by Sears (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,426,330 and 4,534,899). Klibanov et al. (FEBS Lett., 1990, 268, 235) described experiments demonstrating that liposomes comprising phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) derivatized with PEG or PEG stearate have significant increases in blood circulation half-lives. Blume et al. (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1990, 1029, 91) extended such observations to other PEG-derivatized phospholipids, e.g., DSPE-PEG, formed from the combination of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) and PEG. Liposomes having covalently bound PEG moieties on their external surface are described in European Patent No. EP 0 445 131 B1 and WO 90/04384 to Fisher. Liposome compositions containing 1-20 mole percent of PE: derivatized with PEG, and methods of use thereof, are described by Woodle et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,556 and 5,356,633) and Martin et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,804 and European Patent No. EP 0 496 813 B1). Liposomes comprising a number of other lipid-polymer conjugates are disclosed in WO 91/05545 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,212 (both to Martin et al.) and in WO 94/20073 (zalipsky et al.) Liposomes comprising PEG-modified ceramide lipids are described in WO 96/10391 (Choi et al.). U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,540,935 (Miyazaki et al.) and 5,556,948 (Tagawa et al.) describe PEG-containing liposomes that can be further derivatized with functional moieties on their surfaces.

[0096] A limited number of liposomes comprising nucleic acids are known in the art. WO 96/40062 to Thierry et al. discloses methods for encapsulating high molecular weight nucleic acids in liposomes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,221 to Tagawa et al. discloses protein-bonded liposomes and asserts that the contents of such liposomes may include an antisense RNA. U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,710 to Rahman et al. describes certain methods of encapsulating oligodeoxynucleotides in liposomes. WO 97/04787 to Love et al. discloses liposomes comprising antisense oligonucleotides targeted to the raf gene.

[0097] Transfersomes are yet another type of liposomes, and are highly deformable lipid aggregates which are attractive candidates for drug delivery vehicles. Transfersomes may be described as lipid droplets which are so highly deformable that they are easily able to penetrate through pores which are smaller than the droplet. Transfersomes are adaptable to the environment in which they are used, e.g. they are self-optimizing (adaptive to the shape of pores in the skin), self-repairing, frequently reach their targets without fragmenting, and often self-loading. To make transfersomes it is possible to add surface edge-activators, usually surfactants, to a standard liposomal composition. Transfersomes have been used to deliver serum albumin to the skin. The transfersome-mediated delivery of serum albumin has been shown to be as effective as subcutaneous injection of a solution containing serum albumin.

[0098] Surfactants find wide application in formulations such as emulsions (including microemulsions) and liposomes. The most common way of classifying and ranking the properties of the many different types of surfactants, both natural and synthetic, is by the use of the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB). The nature of the hydrophilic group (also known as the “head”) provides the most useful means for categorizing the different surfactants used in formulations (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, p. 285).

[0099] If the surfactant molecule is not ionized, it is classified as a nonionic surfactant. Nonionic surfactants find wide application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and are usable over a wide range of pH values. In general their HLB values range from 2 to about 18 depending on their structure. Nonionic surfactants include nonionic esters such as ethylene glycol esters, propylene glycol esters, glyceryl esters, polyglyceryl esters, sorbitan esters, sucrose esters, and ethoxylated esters. Nonionic alkanolamides and ethers such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, propoxylated alcohols, and ethoxylated/propoxylated block polymers are also included in this class. The polyoxyethylene surfactants are the most popular members of the nonionic surfactant class.

[0100] If the surfactant molecule carries a negative charge when it is dissolved or dispersed in water, the surfactant is classified as anionic. Anionic surfactants include carboxylates such as soaps, acyl lactylates, acyl amides of amino acids, esters of sulfuric acid such as alkyl sulfates and ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, sulfonates such as alkyl benzene sulfonates, acyl isethionates, acyl taurates and sulfosuccinates, and phosphates. The most important members of the anionic surfactant class are the alkyl sulfates and the soaps.

[0101] If the surfactant molecule carries a positive charge when it is dissolved or dispersed in water, the surfactant is classified as cationic. Cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salts and ethoxylated amines. The quaternary ammonium salts are the most used members of this class.

[0102] If the surfactant molecule has the ability to carry either a positive or negative charge, the surfactant is classified as amphoteric. Amphoteric surfactants include acrylic acid derivatives, substituted alkylamides, N-alkylbetaines and phosphatides.

[0103] The use of surfactants in drug products, formulations and in emulsions has been reviewed (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, p. 285).

[0104] Penetration Enhancers

[0105] In one embodiment, the present invention employs various penetration enhancers to effect the efficient delivery of nucleic acids, particularly oligonucleotides, to the skin of animals. Most drugs are present in solution in both ionized and nonionized forms. However, usually only lipid soluble or lipophilic drugs readily cross cell membranes. It has been discovered that even non-lipophilic drugs may cross cell membranes if the membrane to be crossed is treated with a penetration enhancer. In addition to aiding the diffusion of non-lipophilic drugs across cell membranes, penetration enhancers also enhance the permeability of lipophilic drugs.

[0106] Penetration enhancers may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories, i.e., surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92). Each of the above mentioned classes of penetration enhancers are described below in greater detail.

[0107] Surfactants: In connection with the present invention, surfactants (or “surface-active agents”) are chemical entities which, when dissolved in an aqueous solution, reduce the surface tension of the solution or the interfacial tension between the aqueous solution and another liquid, with the result that absorption of oligonucleotides through the mucosa is enhanced. In addition to bile salts and fatty acids, these penetration enhancers include, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether and polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92); and perfluorochemical emulsions, such as FC-43. Takahashi et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1988, 40, 252).

[0108] Fatty acids: Various fatty acids and their derivatives which act as penetration enhancers include, for example, oleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid (n-decanoic acid), myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein (1-monooleoyl-rac-glycerol), dilaurin, caprylic acid, arachidonic acid, glycerol 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, acylcarnitines, acylcholines, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl esters thereof (e.g., methyl, isopropyl and t-butyl), and mono- and di-glycerides thereof (i.e., oleate, laurate, caprate, myristate, palmitate, stearate, linoleate, etc.) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; El Hariri et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1992, 44, 651-654).

[0109] Bile salts: The physiological role of bile includes the facilitation of dispersion and absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins (Brunton, Chapter 38 in: Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th Ed., Hardman et al. Eds., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996, pp. 934-935). Various natural bile salts, and their synthetic derivatives, act as penetration enhancers. Thus the term “bile salts” includes any of the naturally occurring components of bile as well as any of their synthetic derivatives. The bile salts of the invention include, for example, cholic acid (or its pharmaceutically acceptable sodium salt, sodium cholate), dehydrocholic acid (sodium dehydrocholate), deoxycholic acid (sodium deoxycholate), glucholic acid (sodium glucholate), glycholic acid (sodium glycocholate), glycodeoxycholic acid (sodium glycodeoxycholate), taurocholic acid (sodium taurocholate), taurodeoxycholic acid (sodium taurodeoxycholate), chenodeoxycholic acid (sodium chenodeoxycholate), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), sodium tauro-24,25-dihydro-fusidate (STDHF), sodium glycodihydrofusidate and polyoxyet-hylene-9-lauryl ether (POE) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Swinyard, Chapter 39 In: Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed., Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1990, pages 782-783; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Yamamoto et al., J. Pharm. Exp. Ther., 1992, 263, 25; Yamashita et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1990, 79, 579-583).

[0110] Chelating Agents: Chelating agents, as used in connection with the present invention, can be defined as compounds that remove metallic ions from solution by forming complexes therewith, with the result that absorption of oligonucleotides through the mucosa is enhanced. With regards to their use as penetration enhancers in the present invention, chelating agents have the added advantage of also serving as DNase inhibitors, as most characterized DNA nucleases require a divalent metal ion for catalysis and are thus inhibited by chelating agents (Jarrett, J. Chromatogr., 1993, 618, 315-339). Chelating agents of the invention include but are not limited to disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), citric acid, salicylates (e.g., sodium salicylate, 5-methoxysalicylate and homovanilate), N-acyl derivatives of collagen, laureth-9 and N-amino acyl derivatives of beta-diketones (enamines)(Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Buur et al., J. Control Rel., 1990, 14, 43-51).

[0111] Non-chelating non-surfactants: As used herein, non-chelating non-surfactant penetration enhancing compounds can be defined as compounds that demonstrate insignificant activity as chelating agents or as surfactants but that nonetheless enhance absorption of oligonucleotides through the alimentary mucosa (Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33). This class of penetration enhancers include, for example, unsaturated cyclic ureas, 1-alkyl- and 1-alkenylazacyclo-alkanone derivatives (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92); and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as diclofenac sodium, indomethacin and phenylbutazone (Yamashita et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1987, 39, 621-626).

[0112] Agents that enhance uptake of oligonucleotides at the cellular level may also be added to the pharmaceutical and other compositions of the present invention. For example, cationic lipids, such as lipofect:in (Junichi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,188), cationic glycerol derivatives, and polycationic molecules, such as polylysine (Lollo et al., PCT Application WO 97/30731), are also known to enhance the cellular uptake of oligonucleotides.

[0113] Other agents may be utilized to enhance the penetration of the administered nucleic acids, including glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, pyrrols such as 2-pyrrol, azones, and terpenes such as limonene and menthone.

[0114] Carriers

[0115] Certain compositions of the present invention also incorporate carrier compounds in the formulation. As used herein, “carrier compound” or “carrier” can refer to a nucleic acid, or analog thereof, which is inert (i.e., does not possess biological activity per se) but is recognized as a nucleic acid by in vivo processes that reduce the bioavailability of a nucleic acid having biological activity by, for example, degrading the biologically active nucleic acid or promoting its removal from circulation. The coadministration of a nucleic acid and a carrier compound, typically with an excess of the latter substance, can result in a substantial reduction of the amount of nucleic acid recovered in the liver, kidney or other extracirculatory reservoirs, presumably due to competition between the carrier compound and the nucleic acid for a common receptor. For example, the recovery of a partially phosphorothioate oligonucleotide in hepatic tissue can be reduced when it is coadministered with polyinosinic acid, dextran sulfate, polycytidic acid or 4-acetamido-4′isothiocyano-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (Miyao et al., Antisense Res. Dev., 1995, 5, 115-121; Takakura et al., Antisense & Nucl. Acid Drug Dev., 1996, 6, 177-183).

[0116] Excipients

[0117] In contrast to a carrier compound, a “pharmaceutical carrier” or “excipient” is a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent, suspending agent or any other pharmacologically inert vehicle for delivering one or more nucleic acids to an animal. The excipient may be liquid or solid and is selected, with the planned manner of administration in mind, so as to provide for the desired bulk, consistency, etc., when combined with a nucleic acid and the other components of a given pharmaceutical composition. Typical pharmaceutical carriers include, but are not limited to, binding agents (e.g., pregelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, etc.); fillers (e.g., lactose and other sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, pectin, gelatin, calcium sulfate, ethyl cellulose, polyacrylates or calcium hydrogen phosphate, etc.); lubricants (e.g., magnesium stearate, talc, silica, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid, metallic stearates, hydrogenated vegetable oils, corn starch, polyethylene glycols, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, etc.); disintegrants (e.g., starch, sodium starch glycolate, etc.); and wetting agents (e.g., sodium lauryl sulphate, etc.).

[0118] Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipient suitable for non-parenteral administration which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids can also be used to formulate the compositions of the present invention. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohols, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.

[0119] Formulations for topical administration of nucleic acids may include sterile and non-sterile aqueous solutions, non-aqueous solutions in common solvents such as alcohols, or solutions of the nucleic acids in liquid or solid oil bases. The solutions may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives. Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipients suitable for non-parenteral administration which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids can be used.

[0120] Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohol, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.

[0121] Other Components

[0122] The compositions of the present invention may additionally contain other adjunct components conventionally found in pharmaceutical compositions, at their art-established usage levels. Thus, for example, the compositions may contain additional, compatible, pharmaceutically-active materials such as, for example, antipruritics, astringents, local anesthetics or anti-inflammatory agents, or may contain additional materials useful in physically formulating various dosage forms of the compositions of the present invention, such as dyes, flavoring agents, preservatives, antioxidants, opacifiers, thickening agents and stabilizers. However, such materials, when added, should not unduly interfere with the biological activities of the components of the compositions of the present invention. The formulations can be sterilized and, if desired, mixed with auxiliary agents, e.g., lubricants, preservatives, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, salts for influencing osmotic pressure, buffers, colorings, flavorings and/or aromatic substances and the like which do not deleteriously interact with the nucleic acid(s) of the formulation.

[0123] Aqueous suspensions may contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

[0124] Certain embodiments of the invention provide pharmaceutical compositions containing (a) one or more antisense compounds and (b) one or more other chemotherapeutic agents which function by a non-antisense mechanism. Examples of such chemotherapeutic agents include but are not limited to daunorubicin, daunomycin, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, esorubicin, bleomycin, mafosfamide, ifosfamide, cytosine arabinoside, bis-chloroethylnitrosurea, busulfan, mitomycin C, actinomycin D, mithramycin, prednisone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, tamoxiten, dacarbazine, procarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, pentamethylmelamine, mitoxantrone, amsacrine, chlorambucil, methylcyclohexylnitrosurea, nitrogen mustards, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-azacytidine, hydroxyurea, deoxycoformycin, 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphoramide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FUdR), methotrexate (MTX), colchicine, taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide (VP-16), trimetrexate, irinotecan, topotecan, gemcitabine, teniposide, cisplatin and diethylstilbestrol (DES). See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed. 1987, pp. 1206-1228, Berkow et al., eds., Rahway, N. J. When used with the compounds of the invention, such chemotherapeutic agents may be used individually (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide), sequentially (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide for a period of time followed by MTX and oligonucleotide), or in combination with one or more other such chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., 5-FU, MTX and oligonucleotide, or 5-FU, radiotherapy and oligonucleotide). Anti-inflammatory drugs, including but not limited to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, and antiviral drugs, including but not limited to ribivirin, vidarabine, acyclovir and ganciclovir, may also be combined in compositions of the invention. See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed., Berkow et al., eds., 1987, Rahway, N. J., pages 2499-2506 and 46-49, respectively). Other non-antisense chemotherapeutic agents are also within the scope of this invention. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

[0125] In another related embodiment, compositions of the invention may contain one or more antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, targeted to a first nucleic acid and one or more additional antisense compounds targeted to a second nucleic acid target. Numerous examples of antisense compounds are known in the art. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

[0126] The formulation of therapeutic compositions and their subsequent administration is believed to be within the skill of those in the art. Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of the disease state to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting from several days to several months, or until a cure is effected or a diminution of the disease state is achieved. Optimal dosing schedules can be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body of the patient. Persons of ordinary skill can easily determine optimum dosages, dosing methodologies and repetition rates. Optimum dosages may vary depending on the relative potency of individual oligonucleotides, and can generally be estimated based on EC₅₀s found to be effective in in vitro and in vivo animal models. In general, dosage is from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, and may be given once or more daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, or even once every 2 to 20 years. Persons of ordinary skill in the art can easily estimate repetition rates for dosing based on measured residence times and concentrations of the drug in bodily fluids or tissues. Following successful treatment, it may be desirable to have the patient undergo maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of the disease state, wherein the oligonucleotide is administered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, once or more daily, to once every 20 years.

[0127] While the present invention has been described with specificity in accordance with certain of its preferred embodiments, the following examples serve only to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit the same.

EXAMPLES Example 1

[0128] Nucleoside Phosphoramidites for Oligonucleotide Synthesis Deoxy and 2′-alkoxy amidites

[0129] 2′-Deoxy and 2′-methoxy beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial sources (e.g. Chemgenes, Needham Mass. or Glen Research, Inc. Sterling Va.). Other 2′-O-alkoxy substituted nucleoside amidites are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,351, herein incorporated by reference. For oligonucleotides synthesized using 2′-alkoxy amidites, the standard cycle for unmodified oligonucleotides was utilized, except the wait step after pulse delivery of tetrazole and base was increased to 360 seconds.

[0130] Oligonucleotides containing 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Me—C) nucleotides were synthesized according to published methods [Sanghvi, et. al., Nucleic Acids Research, 1993, 21, 3197-3203] using commercially available phosphoramidites (Glen Research, Sterling Va. or ChemGenes, Needham Ma.).

[0131] 2′-Fluoro amidites

[0132] 2′-Fluorodeoxyadenosine amidites

[0133] 2′-fluoro oligonucleotides were synthesized as described previously [Kawasaki, et. al., J. Med. Chem., 1993, 36, 831-841] and U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,633, herein incorporated by reference. Briefly, the protected nucleoside N6-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroadenosine was synthesized utilizing commercially available 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine as starting material and by modifying literature procedures whereby the 2′-alpha-fluoro atom is introduced by a S_(N)2-displacement of a 2′-beta-trityl group. Thus N6-benzoyl-9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine was selectively protected in moderate yield as the 3′,5′-ditet-rahydropyranyl (THP) intermediate. Deprotection of the THP and N6-benzoyl groups was accomplished using standard methodologies and standard methods were used to obtain the 5′-dimethoxytrityl-(DMT) and 5′-DMT-3′-phosphoramidite intermediates.

[0134] 2′-Fluorodeoxyguanosine

[0135] The synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroguanosine was accomplished using tetraisopropyldisiloxanyl (TPDS) protected 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosylguanine as starting material, and conversion to the intermediate diisobutyryl-arabinofuranosylguanosine. Deprotection of the TPDS group was followed by protection of the hydroxyl group with THP to give diisobutyryl di-THP protected arabinofuranosylguanine. Selective O-deacylation and triflation was followed by treatment of the crude product with fluoride, then deprotection of the THP groups. Standard methodologies were used to obtain the 5′-DMT- and 5′-DMT-3′-phosphoramidites.

[0136] 2′-Fluorouridine

[0137] Synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouridine was accomplished by the modification of a literature procedure in which 2,2′-anhydro-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil was treated with 70% hydrogen fluoride-pyridine. Standard procedures were used to obtain the 5′-DMT and 5′-DMT-3′phosphoramidites.

[0138] 2′-Fluorodeoxycytidine

[0139] 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine was synthesized via amination of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouridine, followed by selective protection to give N4-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine. Standard procedures were used to obtain the 5′-DMT and 5′-DMT-3′phosphoramidites.

[0140] 2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) modifiead amidites

[0141] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-substituted nucleoside amidites are prepared as follows, or alternatively, as per the methods of Martin, P., Helvetica Chimica Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504.

[0142] 2,2′-Anhydro[l-(beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-methyluridine]

[0143] 5-Methyluridine (ribosylthymine, commercially available through Yamasa, Choshi, Japan) (72.0 g, 0.279 M), diphenyl-carbonate (90.0 g, 0.420 M) and sodium bicarbonate (2.0 g, 0.024 M) were added to DMF (300 mL). The mixture was heated to reflux, with stirring, allowing the evolved carbon dioxide gas to be released in a controlled manner. After 1 hour, the slightly darkened solution was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting syrup was poured into diethylether (2.5 L), with stirring. The product formed a gum. The ether was decanted and the residue was dissolved in a minimum amount of methanol (ca. 400 mL). The solution was poured into fresh ether (2.5 L) to yield a stiff gum. The ether was decanted and the gum was dried in a vacuum oven (60° C. at 1 mm Hg for 24 h) to give a solid that was crushed to a light tan powder (57 g, 85% crude yield). The NMR spectrum was consistent with the structure, contaminated with phenol as its sodium salt (ca. 5%). The material was used as is for further reactions (or it can be purified further by column chromatography using a gradient of methanol in ethyl acetate (10-25%) to give a white solid, mp 222-4° C.).

[0144] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5-methyluridine

[0145] 2,2′-Anhydro-5-methyluridine (195 g, 0.81 M), tris(2-methoxyethyl)borate (231 g, 0.98 M) and 2-methoxyethanol (1.2 L) were added to a 2 L stainless steel pressure vessel and placed in a pre-heated oil bath at 160° C. After heating for 48 hours at 155-160° C, the vessel was opened and the solution evaporated to dryness and triturated with MeOH (200 mL). The residue was suspended in hot acetone (1 L). The insoluble salts were filtered, washed with acetone (150 mL) and the filtrate evaporated. The residue (280 g) was dissolved in CH₃CN (600 mL) and evaporated. A silica gel column (3 kg) was packed in CH₂Cl₂/acetone/MeOH (20:5:3) containing 0.5% Et₃NH. The residue was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (250 mL) and adsorbed onto silica (150 g) prior to loading onto the column. The product was eluted with the packing solvent to give 160 g (63%) of product. Additional material was obtained by reworking impure fractions.

[0146] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine

[0147] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5-methyluridine (160 g, 0.506 M) was co-evaporated with pyridine (250 mL) and the dried residue dissolved in pyridine (1.3 L). A first aliquot of dimethoxytrityl chloride (94.3 g, 0.278 M) was added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for one hour. A second aliquot of dimethoxytrityl chloride (94.3 g, 0.278 M) was added and the reaction stirred for an additional one hour. Methanol (170 mL) was then added to stop the reaction. HPLC showed the presence of approximately 70% product. The solvent was evaporated and triturated with CH₃CN (200 mL). The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (1.5 L) and extracted with 2×500 mL of saturated NaHCO3 and 2×500 mL of saturated NaCl. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. 275 g of residue was obtained. The residue was purified on a 3.5 kg silica gel column, packed and eluted with EtOAc/hexane/acetone (5:5:1) containing 0.5% Et₃NH. The pure fractions were evaporated to give 164 g of product. Approximately 20 g additional was obtained from the impure fractions to give a total yield of 183 g (57%).

[0148] 3′-O-Acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethy:L-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine

[0149] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine (106 g, 0.167 M), DMF/pyridine (750 mL of a 3:1 mixture prepared from 562 mL of DMF and 188 mL of pyridine) and acetic anhydride (24.38 mL, 0.258 M) were combined and stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction was monitored by TLC by first quenching the TLC sample with the addition of MeOH. Upon completion of the reaction, as judged by TLC, MeOH (50 mL) was added and the mixture evaporated at 35° C. The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (800 mL) and extracted with 2×200 mL of saturated sodium bicarbonate and 2×200 mL of saturated NaCl. The water layers were back extracted with 200 mL of CHCl3. The combined organics were dried with sodium sulfate and evaporated to give 122 g of residue (approx. 90% product). The residue was purified on a 3.5 kg silica gel column and eluted using EtOAc/hexane(4:1). Pure product fractions were evaporated to yield 96 g (84%). An additional 1.5 g was recovered from later fractions.

[0150] 3,-O-Acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyl-4-triazoleuridine

[0151] A first solution was prepared by dissolving 3′-O-acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine (96 g, 0.144 M) in CH₃CN (700 mL) and set aside. Triethylamine (189 mL, 1.44 M) was added to a solution of triazole (90 g, 1.3 M) in CH₃CN (1 L), cooled to −5° C. and stirred for 0.5 h using an overhead stirrer. POCl₃ was added dropwise, over a 30 minute period, to the stirred solution maintained at 0-10° C., and the resulting mixture stirred for an additional 2 hours. The first solution was added dropwise, over a 45 minute period, to the latter solution. The resulting reaction mixture was stored overnight in a cold room. Salts were filtered from the reaction mixture and the solution was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc (1 L) and the insoluble solids were removed by filtration. The filtrate was washed with 1×300 mL of NaHCO3 and 2×300 mL of saturated NaCl, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue was triturated with EtOAc to give the title compound.

[0152] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine

[0153] A solution of 3′-O-acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyl-4-triazoleuridine (103 g, 0.141 M) in dioxane (500 mL) and NH40H (30 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The dioxane solution was evaporated and the residue azeotroped with MeOH (2×200 mL). The residue was dissolved in MeOH (300 mL) and transferred to a 2 liter stainless steel pressure vessel. MeOH (400 mL) saturated with NH₃ gas was added and the vessel heated to 100° C. for 2 hours (TLC showed complete conversion). The vessel contents were evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in EtOAc (500 mL) and washed once with saturated NaCl (200 mL). The organics were dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated to give 85 g (95%) of the title compound.

[0154] N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine

[0155] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine (85 g, 0.134 M) was dissolved in DMF (800 mL) and benzoic anhydride (37.2 g, 0.165 M) was added with stirring. After stirring for 3 hours, TLC showed the reaction to be approximately 95% complete. The solvent was evaporated and the residue azeotroped with MeOH (200 mL). The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (700 mL) and extracted with saturated NaHCO₃ (2×300 mL) and saturated NaCl (2×300 mL), dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated to give a residue (96 g). The residue was chromatographed on a 1.5 kg silica column using EtOAc/hexane (1:1) containing 0.5% Et3NH as the eluting solvent. The pure product fractions were evaporated to give 90 g (90%) of the title compound.

[0156] N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine-3′-amidite

[0157] N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl--5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine (74 g, 0.10 M) was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (1 L). Tetrazole diisopropylamine (7.1 g) and 2-cyanoethoxy-tetra-(isopropyl)phosphite (40.5 mL, 0.123 M) were added with stirring, under a nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting mixture was stirred for 20 hours at room temperature (TLC showed the reaction to be 95% complete). The reaction mixture was extracted with saturated NaHCO3 (1×300 mL) and saturated NaCl (3×300 mL). The aqueous washes were back-extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (300 mL), and the extracts were combined, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The residue obtained was chromatographed on a 1.5 kg silica column using EtOAc/hexane (3:1) as the eluting solvent. The pure fractions were combined to give 90.6 g (87%) of the title compound.

[0158] 2′-O-(Aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites and 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites

[0159] 2′-(Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites

[0160] 2′-(Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites [also known in the art as 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites] are prepared as described in the following paragraphs. Adenosine, cytidine and guanosine nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly to the thymidine (5-methyluridine) except the exocyclic amines are protected with a benzoyl moiety in the case of adenosine and cytidine and with isobutyryl in the case of guanosine.

[0161] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine

[0162] O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (Pro. Bio. Sint., Varese, Italy, 100.0 g, 0.416 mmol), dimethylaminopyridine (0.66 g, 0.013 eq, 0.0054 mmol) were dissolved in dry pyridine (500 ml) at ambient temperature under an argon atmosphere and with mechanical stirring. tert-Butyldiphenylchlorosilane (125.8 g, 119.0 mL, 1.1 eq, 0.458 mmol) was added in one portion. The reaction was stirred for 16 h at ambient temperature. TLC (Rf 0.22, ethyl acetate) indicated a complete reaction. The solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to a thick oil. This was partitioned between dichloromethane (1 L) and saturated sodium bicarbonate (2×1 L) and brine (1 L). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to a thick oil. The oil was dissolved in a 1:1 mixture of ethyl acetate and ethyl ether (600 mL) and the solution was cooled to −10° C. The resulting crystalline product was collected by filtration, washed with ethyl ether (3×200 mL) and dried (40° C., 1 mm Hg, 24 h) to 149 g (74.8%) of white solid. TLC and NMR were consistent with pure product.

[0163] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyluridine

[0164] In a 2 L stainless steel, unstirred pressure reactor was added borane in tetrahydrofuran (1.0 M, 2.0 eq, 622 mL). In the fume hood and with manual stirring, ethylene glycol (350 mL, excess) was added cautiously at first until the evolution of hydrogen gas subsided. 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (149 g, 0.311 mol) and sodium bicarbonate (0.074 g, 0.003 eq) were added with manual stirring. The reactor was sealed and heated in an oil bath until an internal temperature of 160° C. was reached and then maintained for 16 h (pressure <100 psig). The reaction vessel was cooled to ambient and opened. TLC (Rf 0.67 for desired product and Rf 0.82 for ara-T side product, ethyl acetate) indicated about 70% conversion to the product. In order to avoid additional side product formation, the reaction was stopped, concentrated under reduced pressure (10 to 1 mm Hg) in a warm water bath (40-100° C.) with the more extreme conditions used to remove the ethylene glycol. [Alternatively, once the low boiling solvent is gone, the remaining solution can be partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The product will be in the organic phase.] The residue was purified by column chromatography (2 kg silica gel, ethyl acetate-hexanes gradient 1:1 to 4:1). The appropriate fractions were combined, stripped and dried to product as a white crisp foam (84 g, 50%), contaminated starting material (17.4 g) and pure reusable starting material 20 g. The yield based on starting material less pure recovered starting material was 58%. TLC and NMR were consistent with 99% pure product.

[0165] 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine

[0166] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (20 g, 36.98 mmol) was mixed with triphenylphosphine (11.63 g, 44.36 mmol) and N-hydroxyphthalimide (7.249, 44.36 mmol). It was then dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum for two days at 40° C. The reaction mixture was flushed with argon and dry THF (369.8 mL, Aldrich, sure seal bottle) was added to get a clear solution. Diethyl-azodicarboxylate (6.98 mL, 44.36 mmol) was added dropwise to the reaction mixture. The rate of addition is maintained such that resulting deep red coloration is just discharged before adding the next drop. After the addition was complete, the reaction was stirred for 4 hrs. By that time TLC showed the completion of the reaction (ethylacetate:hexane, 60:40). The solvent was evaporated in vacuum. Residue obtained was placed on a flash column and eluted with ethyl acetate:hexane (60:40), to get 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine as white foam (21.819 g, 86%).

[0167] 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine

[0168] 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine (3.1 g, 4.5 mmol) was dissolved in dry CH₂Cl₂ (4.5 mL) and methylhydrazine (300 ml., 4.64 mmol) was added dropwise at −10° C. to 0° C. After 1 h the mixture was filtered, the filtrate was washed with ice cold CH₂Cl₂ and the combined organic phase was washed with water, brine and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The solution was concentrated to get 2′-O-(aminooxyethyl) thymidine, which was then dissolved in MeOH (67.5 mL). To this formaldehyde (20% aqueous solution, w/w, 1.1 eq.) was added and the resulting mixture was strirred for 1 h. Solvent was removed under vacuum; residue chromatographed to get 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine as white foam (1.95 g, 78%).

[0169] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine

[0170] 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine (1.77 g, 3.12 mmol) was dissolved in a solution of 1M pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate (PPTS) in dry MeOH (30.6 mL). Sodium cyanoborohydride (0.39 g, 6.13 mmol) was added to this solution at 10° C. under inert atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at 10° C. After that the reaction vessel was removed from the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 2 h, the reaction monitored by TLC (5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂). Aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (5%, 10 mL) was added and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×20 mL). Ethyl acetate phase was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, evaporated to dryness. Residue was dissolved in a solution of 1M PPTS in MeOH (30.6 mL). Formaldehyde (20% w/w, 30 mL, 3.37 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes. Reaction mixture cooled to 10° C. in an ice bath, sodium cyanoborohydride (0.39 g, 6.13 mmol) was added and reaction mixture stirred at 10° C. for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the reaction mixture was removed from the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs. To the reaction mixture 5% NaHCO₃ (25 mL) solution was added and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×25 mL). Ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and evaporated to dryness. The residue obtained was purified by flash column chromatography and eluted with 5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ to get 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine as a white foam (14.6 g, 80%).

[0171] 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) -5-methyluridine

[0172] Triethylamine trihydrofluoride (3.91 mL, 24.0 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF and triethylamine (1.67 mL, 12 mmol, dry, kept over KOH). This mixture of triethylamine-2HF was then added to 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine (1.40 g, 2.4 mmol) and stirred at room temperature for 24 hrs. Reaction was monitored by TLC (5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂). Solvent was removed under vacuum and the residue placed on a flash column and eluted with 10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ to get 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (766 mg, 92.5%).

[0173] 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (750 mg, 2.17 mmol) was dried over P₂O ₅ under high vacuum overnight at 40° C. It was then co-evaporated with anhydrous pyridine (20 mL). The residue obtained was dissolved in pyridine (11 mL) under argon atmosphere. 4-dimethylaminopyridine (26.5 mg, 2.60 mmol), 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl chloride (880 mg, 2.60 mmol) was added to the mixture and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature until all of the starting material disappeared. Pyridine was removed under vacuum and the residue chromatographed and eluted with 10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ (containing a few drops of pyridine) to get 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylamino-oxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (1.13 g, 80%).

[0174] 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine-3′-[(2-cyanoetlhyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramiditel

[0175] 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (1.08 g, 1.67 mmol) was co-evaporated with toluene (20 mL). To the residue N,N-diisopropylamine tetrazonide (0.29 g, 1.67 mmol) was added and dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum overnight at 40° C. Then the reaction mixture was dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile (8.4 mL) and 2-cyanoethyl-N,N,N¹,N¹-tetraisopropylphosphoramidite (2.12 mL, 6.08 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 4 hrs under inert atmosphere. The progress of the reaction was monitored by TLC (hexane:ethyl acetate 1:1). The solvent was evaporated, then the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (70 mL) and washed with 5% aqueous NaHCO₃ (40 mL). Ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. Residue obtained was chromatographed (ethyl acetate as eluent) to get 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite] as a foam (1.04 g, 74.9%).

[0176] 2′-(Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites

[0177] 2′-(Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites [also known in the art as 2′-O-(aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites] are prepared as described in the following paragraphs. Adenosine, cytidine and thymidine nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly.

[0178] N2-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite]

[0179] The 2′-O-aminooxyethyl guanosine analog may be obtained by selective 2′-O-alkylation of diaminopurine riboside. Multigram quantities of diaminopurine riboside may be purchased from Schering AG (Berlin) to provide 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl) diaminopurine riboside along with a minor amount of the 3′-O-isomer. 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl) diaminopurine riboside may be resolved and converted to 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)guanosine by treatment with adenosine deaminase. (McGee, D. P. C., Cook, P. D., Guinosso, C. J., WO 94/02501 A1 940203.) Standard protection procedures should afford 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine and 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine which may be reduced to provide 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine. As before the hydroxyl group may be displaced by N-hydroxyphthalimide via a Mitsunobu reaction, and the protected nucleoside may phosphitylated as usual to yield 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-([2-phthalmidoxy]ethyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite].

[0180] 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (2′-DMAEOE) nucleoside amidites

[0181] 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy nucleoside amidites (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl, i.e., 2′-O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₂)₂, or 2′-DMAEOE nucleoside amidites) are prepared as follows. Other nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly.

[0182] 2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl]-5-methyl uridine

[0183] 2[2-(Dimethylamino)ethoxy]ethanol (Aldrich, 6.66 g, 50 mmol) is slowly added to a solution of borane in tetrahydrofuran (1 M, 10 mL, 10 mmol) with stirring in a 100 mL bomb. Hydrogen gas evolves as the solid dissolves. O²—,2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (1.2 g, 5 mmol), and sodium bicarbonate (2.5 mg) are added and the bomb is sealed, placed in an oil bath and heated to 155° C. for 26 hours. The bomb is cooled to room temperature and opened. The crude solution is concentrated and the residue partitioned between water (200 mL) and hexanes (200 mL). The excess phenol is extracted into the hexane layer. The aqueous layer is extracted with ethyl acetate (3×200 mL) and the combined organic layers are washed once with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue is columned on silica gel using methanol/methylene chloride 1:20 (which has 2% triethylamine) as the eluent. As the column fractions are concentrated a colorless solid forms which is collected to give the title compound as a white solid.

[0184] 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-(2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy) ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine

[0185] To 0.5 g (1.3 mmol) of 2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylamino-ethoxy)ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine in anhydrous pyridine (8 mL), triethylamine (0.36 mL) and dimethoxytrityl chloride (DMT-Cl, 0.87 g, 2 eq.) are added and stirred for 1 hour. The reaction mixture is poured into water (200 mL) and extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2×200 mL). The combined CH₂Cl₂ layers are washed with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, followed by saturated NaCl solution and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent followed by silica gel chromatography using MeOH:CH₂Cl₂:Et₃N (20:1, v/v, with 1% triethylamine) gives the title compound.

[0186] 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)-ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine-3′-O-(cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite

[0187] Diisopropylaminotetrazolide (0.6 g) and 2-cyanoethoxy-N,N-diisopropyl phosphoramidite (1.1 mL, 2 eq.) are added to a solution of 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl)]-5-methyluridine (2.17 g, 3 mmol) dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) under an atmosphere of argon. The reaction mixture is stirred overnight and the solvent evaporated. The resulting residue is purified by silica gel flash column chromatography with ethyl acetate as the eluent to give the title compound.

Example 2

[0188] Oligonucleotide synthesis

[0189] Unsubstituted and substituted phosphodiester (P═O) oligonucleotides are synthesized on an automated DNA synthesizer (Applied Biosystems model 380B) using standard phosphoramidite chemistry with oxidation by iodine.

[0190] Phosphorothioates (P═S) are synthesized as for the phosphodiester oligonucleotides except the standard oxidation bottle was replaced by 0.2 M solution of 3H-1,2-benzodithiole-3-one 1,′-dioxide in acetonitrile for the stepwise thiation of the phosphite linkages. The thiation wait step was increased to 68 sec and was followed by the capping step. After cleavage from the CPG column and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. (18 h), the oligonucleotides were purified by precipitating twice with 2.5 volumes of ethanol from a 0.5 M NaCl solution.

[0191] Phosphinate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,270, herein incorporated by reference.

[0192] Alkyl phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Patent 4,469,863, herein incorporated by reference.

[0193] 3,-Deoxy-3′-methylene phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,610,289 or 5,625,050, herein incorporated by reference.

[0194] Phosphoramidite oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No., 5,256,775 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,878, herein incorporated by reference.

[0195] Alkylphosphonothioate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in published PCT applications PCT/US94/00902 and PCT/US93/06976 (published as WO 94/17093 and WO 94/02499, respectively), herein incorporated by reference.

[0196] 3′-Deoxy-3′-amino phosphoramidate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,925, herein incorporated by reference.

[0197] Phosphotriester oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,243, herein incorporated by reference.

[0198] Borano phosphate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,130,302 and 5,177,198, both herein incorporated by reference.

Example 3

[0199] Oligonucleoside Synthesis

[0200] Methylenemethylimino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MMI linked oligonucleosides, methylenedimethylhydrazo linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MDH linked oligonucleosides, and methylenecarbonylamino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-3 linked oligonucleosides, and methyleneaminocarbonyl linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-4 linked oligonucleosides, as well as mixed backbone compounds having, for instance, alternating MMI and P═O or P═S linkages are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,825, 5,386,023, 5,489,677, 5,602,240 and 5,610,289, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0201] Formacetal and thioformacetal linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,264,562 and 5,264,564, herein incorporated by reference.

[0202] Ethylene oxide linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,618, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 4

[0203] PNA Synthesis

[0204] Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are prepared in accordance with any of the various procedures referred to in Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNA): Synthesis, Properties and Potential Applications, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 1996, 4, 5-23. They may also be prepared in accordance with U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082, 5,700,922, and 5,719,262, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 5

[0205] Synthesis of Chimeric Oligonucleotides

[0206] Chimeric oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides or mixed oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides of the invention can be of several different types. These include a first type wherein the “gap” segment of linked nucleosides is positioned between 5′ and 3′ “wing” segments of linked nucleosides and a second “open end” type wherein the “gap” segment is located at either the 3′ or the 5′ terminus of the oligomeric compound. Oligonucleotides of the first type are also known in the art as “gapmers” or gapped oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides of the second type are also known in the art as “hemimers” or “wingmers”.

[0207] [2′-O—Me]—[2′-deoxy]—[2′-O—Me] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

[0208] Chimeric oligonucleotides having 2′-O-alkyl phosphorothioate and 2′-deoxy phosphorothioate oligonucleotide segments are synthesized using an Applied Biosystems automated DNA synthesizer Model 380B, as above. Oligonucleotides are synthesized using the automated synthesizer and 2′-deoxy-5′-dimethoxytrityl-3′-O-phosphoramidite for the DNA portion and 5′-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-methyl-3′-O-phosphoramidite for 5′ and 3′ wings. The standard synthesis cycle is modified by increasing the wait step after the delivery of tetrazole and base to 600 s repeated four times for RNA and twice for 2′-O-methyl. The fully protected oligonucleotide is cleaved from the support and the phosphate group is deprotected in 3:1 ammonia/ethanol at room temperature overnight then lyophilized to dryness. Treatment in methanolic ammonia for 24 hrs at room temperature is then done to deprotect all bases and sample was again lyophilized to dryness. The pellet is resuspended in 1M TBAF in THF for 24 hrs at room temperature to deprotect the 2′ positions. The reaction is then quenched with 1M TEAA and the sample is then reduced to ½ volume by rotovac before being desalted on a G25 size exclusion column. The oligo recovered is then analyzed spectrophotometrically for yield and for purity by capillary electrophoresis and by mass spectrometry.

[0209] [2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)]—[2′-deoxy]—[2′-O-(Methoxyethyl)] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

[0210] [2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)]—[2′-deoxy]—[-2′-O-(methoxy-ethyl)] chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were prepared as per the procedure above for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide, with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites.

[0211] [2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)Phosphodiester]—[2′-deoxy Phosphorothioate]—[2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) Phosphodiester] Chimeric Oligonucleotides

[0212] [2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl phosphodiester]—[2′-deoxy phosphorothioate]—[2′-O-(methoxyethyl) phosphodiester] chimeric oligonucleotides are prepared as per the above procedure for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites, oxidization with iodine to generate the phosphodiester internucleotide linkages within the wing portions of the chimeric structures and sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) to generate the phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages for the center gap.

[0213] Other chimeric oligonucleotides, chimeric oligonucleosides and mixed chimeric oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides are synthesized according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,065, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 6

[0214] Oligonucleotide Isolation

[0215] After cleavage from the controlled pore glass column (Applied Biosystems) and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. for 18 hours, the oligonucleotides or oligonucleosides are purified by precipitation twice out of 0.5 M NaCl with 2.5 volumes ethanol. Synthesized oligonucleotides were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on denaturing gels and judged to be at least 85% full length material. The relative amounts of phosphorothioate and phosphodiester linkages obtained in synthesis were periodically checked by ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and for some studies oligonucleotides were purified by HPLC, as described by Chiang et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1991, 266, 18162-18171. Results obtained with HPLC-purified material were similar to those obtained with non-HPLC purified material.

Example 7

[0216] Oligonucleotide Synthesis—96 Well Plate Format

[0217] Oligonucleotides were synthesized via solid phase P(III) phosphoramidite chemistry on an automated synthesizer capable of assembling 96 sequences simultaneously in a standard 96 well format. Phosphodiester internucleotide linkages were afforded by oxidation with aqueous iodine. Phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages were generated by sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) in anhydrous acetonitrile. Standard base-protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial vendors (e.g. PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., or Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). Non-standard nucleosides are synthesized as per known literature or patented methods. They are utilized as base protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites.

[0218] Oligonucleotides were cleaved from support and deprotected with concentrated NH40H at elevated temperature (55-60° C.) for 12-16 hours and the released product then dried in vacuo. The dried product was then re-suspended in sterile water to afford a master plate from which all analytical and test plate samples are then diluted utilizing robotic pipettors.

Example 8

[0219] Oligonucleotide Analysis—96 Well Plate Format

[0220] The concentration of oligonucleotide in each well was assessed by dilution of samples and UV absorption spectroscopy. The full-length integrity of the individual products was evaluated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in either the 96 well format (Beckman P/ACE™ MDQ) or, for individually prepared samples, on a commercial CE apparatus (e.g., Beckman P/ACE™ 5000, ABI 270). Base and backbone composition was confirmed by mass analysis of the compounds utilizing electrospray-mass spectroscopy. All assay test plates were diluted from the master plate using single and multi-channel robotic pipettors. Plates were judged to be acceptable if at least 85% of the compounds on the plate were at least 85% full length.

Example 9

[0221] Cell Culture and Oligonucleotide Treatment

[0222] The effect of antisense compounds on target nucleic acid expression can be tested in any of a variety of cell types provided that the target nucleic acid is present at measurable levels. This can be routinely determined using, for example, PCR or Northern blot analysis. The following 4 cell types are provided for illustrative purposes, but other cell types can be routinely used, provided that the target is expressed in the cell type chosen. This can be readily determined by methods routine in the art, for example Northern blot analysis, Ribonuclease protection assays, or RT-PCR.

[0223] T-24 Cells:

[0224] The human transitional cell bladder carcinoma cell line T-24 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). T-24 cells were routinely cultured in complete McCoy's 5A basal media (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence. Cells were seeded into 96-well plates (Falcon-Primaria #3872) at a density of 7000 cells/well for use in RT-PCR analysis.

[0225] For Northern blotting or other analysis, cells may be seeded onto 100 mm or other standard tissue culture plates and treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of medium and oligonucleotide.

[0226] A549 Cells:

[0227] The human lung carcinoma cell line A549 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). A549 cells were routinely cultured in DMEM basal media (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence.

[0228] NHDF Cells:

[0229] Human neonatal dermal fibroblast (NHDF) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville Md.). NHDFs were routinely maintained in Fibroblast Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville Md.) supplemented as recommended by the supplier. Cells were maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

[0230] HEK Cells:

[0231] Human embryonic keratinocytes (HEK) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville Md.). HEKs were routinely maintained in Keratinocyte Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville Md.) formulated as recommended by the supplier. Cells were routinely maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

[0232] Treatment with Antisense Compounds:

[0233] When cells reached 80% confluency, they were treated with oligonucleotide. For cells grown in 96-well plates, wells were washed once with 200 μL OPTI-MEM™-1 reduced-serum medium (Gibco BRL) and then treated with 130 μL of OPTI-MEM™-1 containing 3.75 μg/mL LIPOFECTIN™ (Gibco BRL) and the desired concentration of oligonucleotide. After 4-7 hours of treatment, the medium was replaced with fresh medium. Cells were harvested 16-24 hours after oligonucleotide treatment.

[0234] The concentration of oligonucleotide used varies from cell line to cell line. To determine the optimal oligonucleotide concentration for a particular cell line, the cells are treated with a positive control oligonucleotide at a range of concentrations. For human cells the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 13920, TCCGTCATCGCTCCTCAGGG, SEQ ID NO: 1, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to human H-ras. For mouse or rat cells the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 15770, ATGCATTCTGCCCCCAAGGA, SEQ ID NO: 2, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to both mouse and rat c-raf. The concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 80% inhibition of c-Ha-ras (for ISIS 13920) or c-raf (for ISIS 15770) mRNA is then utilized as the screening concentration for new oligonucleotides in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 80% inhibition is not achieved, the lowest concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 60% inhibition of H-ras or c-raf mRNA is then utilized as the oligonucleotide screening concentration in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 60% inhibition is not achieved, that particular cell line is deemed as unsuitable for oligonucleotide transfection experiments.

Example 10

[0235] Analysis of Oligonucleotide Inhibition of Interferon Gamma Receptor 2 Expression

[0236] Antisense modulation of Interferon gamma receptor 2 expression can be assayed in a variety of ways known in the art. For example, Interferon gamma receptor 2 mRNA levels can be quantitated by, e.g., Northern blot analysis, competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Real-time quantitative PCR is presently preferred. RNA analysis can be performed on total cellular RNA or poly(A)+ mRNA. Methods of RNA isolation are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.1.1-4.2.9 and 4.5.1-4.5.3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993. Northern blot analysis is routine in the art and is taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.2.1-4.2.9, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996. Real-time quantitative (PCR) can be conveniently accomplished using the commercially available ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System, available from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif. and used according to manufacturer's instructions.

[0237] Protein levels of Interferon gamma receptor 2 can be quantitated in a variety of ways well known in the art, such as immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis (immunoblotting), ELISA or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Antibodies directed to Interferon gamma receptor 2 can be identified and obtained from a variety of sources, such as the MSRS catalog of antibodies (Aerie Corporation, Birmingham, Mich.), or can be prepared via conventional antibody generation methods. Methods for preparation of polyclonal antisera are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.12.1-11.12.9, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. Preparation of monoclonal antibodies is taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.4.1-11.11.5, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997.

[0238] Immunoprecipitation methods are standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 10.16.1-10.16.11, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis is standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 10.8.1-10.8.21, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.2.1-11.2.22, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1991.

Example 11

[0239] Poly(A)+ mRNA Isolation

[0240] Poly(A)+ mRNA was isolated according to Miura et al., Clin. Chem., 1996, 42, 1758-1764. Other methods for poly(A)+ mRNA isolation are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.5.1-4.5.3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 60 μL lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 M NaCl, 0.5% NP-40, 20 mM vanadyl-ribonucleoside complex) was added to each well, the plate was gently agitated and then incubated at room temperature for five minutes. 55 μL of lysate was transferred to Oligo d(T) coated 96-well plates (AGCT Inc., Irvine Calif.). Plates were incubated for 60 minutes at room temperature, washed 3 times with 200 μL of wash buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.3 M NaCl). After the final wash, the plate was blotted on paper towels to remove excess wash buffer and then air-dried for 5 minutes. 60 μL of elution buffer (5 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6), preheated to 70° C. was added to each well, the plate was incubated on a 90° C. hot plate for 5 minutes, and the eluate was then transferred to a fresh 96-well plate.

[0241] Cells grown on 100 mm or other standard plates may be treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of all solutions.

Example 12

[0242] Total RNA Isolation

[0243] Total RNA was isolated using an RNEASY 96™ kit and buffers purchased from Qiagen Inc. (Valencia Calif.) following the manufacturer's recommended procedures. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 100 μL Buffer RLT was added to each well and the plate vigorously agitated for 20 seconds. 100 μL of 70% ethanol was then added to each well and the contents mixed by pipetting three times up and down. The samples were then transferred to the RNEASY 96™ well plate attached to a QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a waste collection tray and attached to a vacuum source. Vacuum was applied for 15 seconds. 1 mL of Buffer RW1 was added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum again applied for 15 seconds. 1 mL of Buffer RPE was then added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum applied for a period of 15 seconds. The Buffer RPE wash was then repeated and the vacuum was applied for an additional 10 minutes. The plate was then removed from the QIAVAC™ manifold and blotted dry on paper towels. The plate was then re-attached to the QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a collection tube rack containing 1.2 mL collection tubes. RNA was then eluted by pipetting 60 μL water into each well, incubating 1 minute, and then applying the vacuum for 30 seconds. The elution step was repeated with an additional 60 μL water.

[0244] The repetitive pipetting and elution steps may be automated using a QIAGEN Bio-Robot: 9604 (Qiagen, Inc., Valencia Calif.). Essentially, after lysing of the cells on the culture plate, the plate is transferred to the robot deck where the pipetting, DNase treatment and elution steps are carried out.

Example 13

[0245] Real-time Quantitative PCR Analysis of Interferon Gamma Receptor 2 mRNA Levels

[0246] Quantitation of Interferon gamma receptor 2 mRNA levels was determined by real-time quantitative PCR using the ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) according to manufacturer's instructions. This is a closed-tube, non-gel-based, fluorescence detection system which allows high-throughput quantitation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in real-time. As opposed to standard PCR, in which amplification products are quantitated after the PCR is completed, products in real-time quantitative PCR are quantitated as they accumulate. This is accomplished by including in the PCR reaction an oligonucleotide probe that anneals specifically between the forward and reverse PCR primers, and contains two fluorescent dyes. A reporter dye (e.g., JOE, FAM, or VIC, obtained from either Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is attached to the 5′ end of the probe and a quencher dye (e.g., TAMRA, obtained from either Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is attached to the 3′ end of the probe. When the probe and dyes are intact, reporter dye emission is quenched by the proximity of the 3′ quencher dye. During amplification, annealing of the probe to the target sequence creates a substrate that can be cleaved by the 5′-exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase. During the extension phase of the PCR amplification cycle, cleavage of the probe by Taq polymerase releases the reporter dye from the remainder of the probe (and hence from the quencher moiety) and a sequence-specific fluorescent signal is generated. With each cycle, additional reporter dye molecules are cleaved from their respective probes, and the fluorescence intensity is monitored at regular intervals by laser optics built into the ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System. In each assay, a series of parallel reactions containing serial dilutions of mRNA from untreated control samples generates a standard curve that is used to quantitate the percent inhibition after antisense oligonucleotide treatment of test samples.

[0247] Prior to quantitative PCR analysis, primer-probe sets specific to the target gene being measured are evaluated for their ability to be “multiplexed” with a GAPDH amplification reaction. In multiplexing, both the target gene and the internal standard gene GAPDH are amplified concurrently in a single sample. In this analysis, mRNA isolated from untreated cells is serially diluted. Each dilution is amplified in the presence of primer-probe sets specific for GAPDH only, target gene only (“single-plexing”), or both (multiplexing). Following PCR amplification, standard curves of GAPDH and target mRNA signal as a function of dilution are generated from both the single-plexed and multiplexed samples. If both the slope and correlation coefficient of the GAPDH and target signals generated from the multiplexed samples fall within 10% of their corresponding values generated from the single-plexed samples, the primer-probe set specific for that target is deemed multiplexable. Other methods of PCR are also known in the art.

[0248] PCR reagents were obtained from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif. RT-PCR reactions were carried out by adding 25 μL PCR cocktail (1× TAQMAN™ buffer A, 5.5 mM MgCl₂, 300 μM each of DATP, dCTP and dGTP, 600 μM of dUTP, 100 nM each of forward primer, reverse primer, arid probe, 20 Units RNAse inhibitor, 1.25 Units AMPLITAQ GOLD™, and 12.5 Units MuLV reverse transcriptase) to 96 well plates containing 25 μL total RNA solution. The RT reaction was carried out by incubation for 30 minutes at 48° C. Following a 10 minute incubation at 95° C. to activate the AMPLITAQ GOLD™, 40 cycles of a two-step PCR protocol were carried out: 95° C. for 15 seconds (denaturation) followed by 60° C. for 1.5 minutes (annealing/extension).

[0249] Gene target quantities obtained by real time RT-PCR are normalized using either the expression level of GAPDH, a gene whose expression is constant, or by quantifying total RNA using RiboGreen™ (Molecular Probes, Inc. Eugene, Oreg.). GAPDH expression is quantified by real time RT-PCR, by being run simultaneously with the target, multiplexing, or separately. Total RNA is quantified using RiboGreen™ RNA quantification reagent from Molecular Probes. Methods of RNA quantification by RiboGreen™ are taught in Jones, L. J., et al, Analytical Biochemistry, 1998, 265, 368-374.

[0250] In this assay, 175 μL of RiboGreen™ working reagent (RiboGreen™ reagent diluted 1:2865 in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.5) is pipetted into a 96-well plate containing 25 uL purified, cellular RNA. The plate is read in a CytoFluor 4000 (PE Applied Biosystems) with excitation at 480 nm and emission at 520 nm.

[0251] Probes and primers to human Interferon gamma receptor 2 were designed to hybridize to a human Interferon gamma receptor 2 sequence, using published sequence information (GenBank accession number NM_(—)005534, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 3). For human Interferon gamma receptor 2 the PCR primers were:

[0252] forward primer: CAGCAGGCTTCCCAATGG (SEQ ID NO: 4)

[0253] reverse primer: GGAGGCCCGACAGTCACAT (SEQ ID NO: 5) and the

[0254] PCR probe was: FAM-TCAATGTCACTCTACGCCTTCGAGCTGA-TAMRA (SEQ ID NO: 6) where FAM (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the quencher dye. For human GAPDH the PCR primers were:

[0255] forward primer: GAAGGTGAAGGTCGGAGTC (SEQ ID NO: 7)

[0256] reverse primer: GAAGATGGTGATGGGATTTC (SEQ ID NO: 8) and the

[0257] PCR probe was: 5′ JOE-CAAGCTTCCCGTTCTCAGCC-TAMRA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 9) where JOE (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the quencher dye.

Example 14

[0258] Northern Blot Analysis of Interferon Gamma Receptor 2 mRNA Levels

[0259] Eighteen hours after antisense treatment, cell monolayers were washed twice with cold PBS and lysed in 1 mL RNAZOLυ (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). Total RNA was prepared following manufacturer's recommended protocols. Twenty micrograms of total RNA was fractionated by electrophoresis through 1.2% agarose gels containing 1.1% formaldehyde using a MOPS buffer system (AMRESCO, Inc. Solon, Ohio). RNA was transferred from the gel to HYBOND™-N+ nylon membranes (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.) by overnight capillary transfer using a Northern/Southern Transfer buffer system (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). RNA transfer was confirmed by UV visualization. Membranes were fixed by UV cross-linking using a STRATALINKER™ UV Crosslinker 2400 (Stratagene, Inc, La Jolla, Calif.) and then robed using QUICKHYB™ hybridization solution (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) using manufacturer's recommendations for stringent conditions.

[0260] To detect human Interferon gamma receptor 2, a human Interferon gamma receptor 2 specific probe was prepared by PCR using the forward primer CAGCAGGCTTCCCAATGG (SEQ ID NO: 4) and the reverse primer GGAGGCCCGACAGTCACAT (SEQ ID NO: 5). To normalize for variations in loading and transfer efficiency membranes were stripped and probed for human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) RNA (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.).

[0261] Hybridized membranes were visualized and quantitated using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ and IMAGEQUANT™ Software V3.3 (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Data was normalized to GAPDH levels in untreated controls.

Example 15

[0262] Antisense Inhibition of Human Interferon Gamma Receptor 2 Expression by Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE Wings and a Deoxy Gap

[0263] In accordance with the present invention, a series of oligonucleotides were designed to target different regions of the human Interferon gamma receptor 2 RNA, using published sequences (GenBank accession number NM_(—)005534, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 3, GenBank accession number AI214335, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 10, and genomic sequence representing residues 2400′-78000 of GenBank accession number AP000045, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 11). The oligonucleotides are shown in Table 1. “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the oligonucleotide binds. All compounds in Table 1 are chimeric oligonucleotides (“gapmers”) 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central “gap” region consisting of ten 2′-deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5′ and 3′ directions) by five-nucleotide “wings”. The wings are composed of 2′-methoxyethyl (2′-MOE)nucleotides. The internucleoside (backbone) linkages are phosphorothioate (P═S) throughout the oligonucleotide. All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines. The compounds were analyzed for their effect on human Interferon gamma receptor 2 mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Data are averages from two experiments. If present, “N.D.” indicates “no data”. TABLE 1 Inhibition of human Interferon gamma receptor 2 mRNA levels by chimeric phosphorothicate oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap TARGET TARGET SEQ ID ISIS # REGION SEQ ID NO SITE SEQUENCE %INHIB NO 142740 5′UTR 3 96 catattaagctttcaactct 17 12 142741 5′UTR 3 130 agtcgaaatgtttgctttaa 19 13 142742 5′UTR 3 150 attcgaggattcgccccttt 22 14 142743 5′UTR 3 161 ttgatcgcacaattcgagga 22 15 142744 5′UTR 3 262 cgatccttccggaagggccc 4 16 142745 5′UTR 3 337 ggcctcccagagcgcggagc 19 17 142746 Coding 3 741 tcttcgggtgctgaggagcg 55 18 142747 Coding 3 769 aggacctgctctgcgttgta 60 19 142748 Coding 3 786 ccactggctcccaactcagg 52 20 142749 Coding 3 818 gtagacaacaggcctcgtgc 39 21 142750 Coding 3 845 actgtcggtgtatttaaact 16 22 142751 Coding 3 864 tgtcggccgtgaaccattta 70 23 142752 Coding 3 885 aattcacccctatggacatg 48 24 142753 Coding 3 905 tgttgctgtgatctgtgtac 51 25 142754 Coding 3 911 acactctgttgctgtgatct 62 26 142755 Coding 3 917 gaagtcacactctgttgctg 76 27 142756 Coding 3 955 aaatccattgggaagcctgc 70 28 142757 Coding 3 975 gaaggcgtagagtgacattg 73 29 142758 Coding 3 991 gctcccagctcagctcgaag 91 30 142759 Coding 3 1000 gaatggagtgctcccagctc 81 31 142760 Coding 3 1013 tgtcacccaggcagaatgga 80 32 142761 Coding 3 1033 tagtgttgaaaccaaggcat 54 33 142762 Coding 3 1051 ccgacagtcacattccgata 60 34 142763 Coding 3 1073 cacctcaatgttttctggag 64 35 142764 Coding 3 1144 aaggccgtggaggtatcagc 66 36 142765 Coding 3 1180 cctcctttttcccagtaatg 37 37 142766 Coding 3 1201 gggcctttgacctgttggat 66 38 142767 Coding 3 1233 agttatccaatgaaatggag 47 39 142768 Coding 3 1253 gtacactctggagggtttta 67 40 142769 Coding 3 1268 ctggacttgtaaacagtaca 66 41 142770 Coding 3 1291 cttttgttccaaagcagttg 57 42 142771 Coding 3 1306 actctaaagatgttactttt 31 43 142772 Coding 3 1308 cgactctaaagatgttactt 8 44 142773 Coding 3 1316 taaatgcccgactctaaaga 49 45 142774 Coding 3 1321 ttgcttaaatgcccgactct 39 46 142775 Coding 3 1341 ttgtttcgtagcaagatatg 45 47 142776 Coding 3 1361 ctcagtggaggcatctgcca 67 48 142777 Coding 3 1370 ttgctgaagctcagtggagg 57 49 142778 Coding 3 1399 gaaaatgttcccacggagat 19 50 142779 Coding 3 1409 cgacagcaacgaaaatgttc 49 51 142780 Coding 3 1426 caggctcctgccagcaccga 67 52 142781 Coding 3 1496 taatgggatgcttggtggag 28 53 142782 Coding 3 1514 taaatactcttctatctgta 39 54 142783 Coding 3 1540 tctaagatgggctgagttgg 41 55 142784 Coding 3 1575 cgtcatcctttggtgagctg 59 56 142785 Coding 3 1595 aatggacacagagtcccaga 59 57 142786 Coding 3 1601 cgagataatggacacagagt 23 58 142787 Stop 3 1654 catgctttggttcaaagcgt 50 59 Codon 142788 3′UTR 3 1667 agtgggctaggcccatgctt 36 60 142789 3′UTR 3 1682 ctcttccagggagccagtgg 42 61 142790 3′UTR 3 1689 gcttgatctcttccagggag 42 62 142791 3′UTR 3 1707 actctagcagctccgatggc 59 63 142792 3′UTR 3 1749 ggcagcaaaagggaatactg 32 64 142793 3′UTR 3 1780 ctctcatgtctgcagggaca 52 65 142794 3′UTR 3 1804 tgtcacccccatgagacctg 50 66 142795 3′UTR 3 1839 ttttgaaaattctttaagaa 5 67 142796 3′UTR 3 1921 caagcaattacatgcctttt 56 68 142797 3′UTR 3 1954 agtatcagagatgtgtcata 57 69 142798 3′UTR 3 1987 ttctgactgctcagcccaac 52 70 142799 3′UTR 3 2006 tcaagacgacgaccaggtct 48 71 142800 3′UTR 3 2012 ccaaagtcaagacgacgacc 40 72 142801 3′UTR 3 2075 gccactcagtgtccctcgct 48 73 142802 3′UTR 3 2087 tgtacatgaagggccactca 55 74 142803 3′UTR 3 2093 catggatgtacatgaagggc 33 75 142804 3′UTR 3 2109 ttttaagccagcacaccatg 48 76 142805 3′UTR 3 2120 gattaattacattttaagcc 20 77 142806 3′UTR 3 2130 atatttacaagattaattac 21 78 142807 Exon 10 184 tcactgggccctttctaact 28 79 142808 Exon 10 190 cctccttcactgggcccttt 0 80 142809 Exon 10 264 tagaaatgctggaagtttct 13 81 142810 Exon 10 293 gccggctccagggcaaaccc 20 82 142811 Intron 11 7996 ttgggtgacagagagagact 5 83 1 142812 Intron 11 8566 aagttattctaattggatgg 39 84 1 142813 Intron 11 16852 ttcttagagtgtagaacaac 12 85 2 142814 Intron 11 20075 gaggaacaaatgtaggaact 52 86 3 142815 Intron 11 21224 cctgggcgacagtgcaagac 22 87 3 142816 Intron 11 22073 gctctgtcacccaggctgat 39 88 3 142817 Intron 11 24417 tctcttgcatcagcctctca 28 89

[0264] As shown in Table 1, SEQ ID NOs 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76 and 86 demonstrated at least 40% inhibition of human Interferon gamma receptor 2 expression in this assay and are therefore preferred. The target sites to which these preferred sequences are complementary are herein referred to as “active sites” and are therefore preferred sites for targeting by compounds of the present invention.

Example 16

[0265] Western Blot Analysis of Interferon Gamma Receptor 2 Protein Levels

[0266] Western blot analysis (immunoblot analysis) is carried out using standard methods. Cells are harvested 16-20 h after oligonucleotide treatment, washed once with PBS, suspended in Laemmli buffer (100 ul/well), boiled for 5 minutes and loaded on a 16% SDS-PAGE gel. Gels are run for 1.5 hours at 150 V, and transferred to membrane for western blotting. Appropriate primary antibody directed to Interferon gamma receptor 2 is used, with a radiolabelled or fluorescently labeled secondary antibody directed against the primary antibody species. Bands are visualized using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale Calif.).

1 89 1 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 1 tccgtcatcg ctcctcaggg 20 2 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 2 atgcattctg cccccaagga 20 3 2214 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (649)...(1662) 3 gttgactgga ggcggaggtt gcagtgagcc gagatcgccc cactgcactc cagcctggtg 60 actccgtctc aaaaaaaagg ggaggggggc gggggagagt tgaaagctta atatgtactt 120 tgggggctat taaagcaaac atttcgacta aaggggcgaa tcctcgaatt gtgcgatcaa 180 gcacccgaga ggagagttgg ggggggtcag gaggggtggg ggctccaggg aacgcccggg 240 ggcctgggcc ggggtctcgc ggggcccttc cggaaggatc gcggcccccg aaggtgggcg 300 tcccgcgggg ctccagtctc caggacgttc cgggaggctc cgcgctctgg gaggccggct 360 gcgtggggtc cccgcgctgc agccgcagag gccccccagg gccgcggttc ccggagcggg 420 aaagtcccgc gcgggggcgg tggcctcggg ggcgggacgg ggcgggggcg ggggcgcggg 480 cggccgagcc gaatcccctc caccgggacg ccccgctgcc gctcgggaag aggcgggccc 540 tgcgcgccct gcgctcgcca tggcggtttg ggcggcgacg tgagcggctc cgcggacccc 600 gagcggggcc ccggccgcga cctgagccgc cgccgagcgc ccggggcc atg cga ccg 657 Met Arg Pro 1 acg ctg ctg tgg tcg ctg ctg ctg ctg ctc gga gtc ttc gcc gcc gcc 705 Thr Leu Leu Trp Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Gly Val Phe Ala Ala Ala 5 10 15 gcc gcg gcc ccg cca gac cct ctt tcc cag ctg ccc gct cct cag cac 753 Ala Ala Ala Pro Pro Asp Pro Leu Ser Gln Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln His 20 25 30 35 ccg aag att cgc ctg tac aac gca gag cag gtc ctg agt tgg gag cca 801 Pro Lys Ile Arg Leu Tyr Asn Ala Glu Gln Val Leu Ser Trp Glu Pro 40 45 50 gtg gcc ctg agc aat agc acg agg cct gtt gtc tac cga gtg cag ttt 849 Val Ala Leu Ser Asn Ser Thr Arg Pro Val Val Tyr Arg Val Gln Phe 55 60 65 aaa tac acc gac agt aaa tgg ttc acg gcc gac atc atg tcc ata ggg 897 Lys Tyr Thr Asp Ser Lys Trp Phe Thr Ala Asp Ile Met Ser Ile Gly 70 75 80 gtg aat tgt aca cag atc aca gca aca gag tgt gac ttc act gcc gcc 945 Val Asn Cys Thr Gln Ile Thr Ala Thr Glu Cys Asp Phe Thr Ala Ala 85 90 95 agt ccc tca gca ggc ttc cca atg gat ttc aat gtc act cta cgc ctt 993 Ser Pro Ser Ala Gly Phe Pro Met Asp Phe Asn Val Thr Leu Arg Leu 100 105 110 115 cga gct gag ctg gga gca ctc cat tct gcc tgg gtg aca atg cct tgg 1041 Arg Ala Glu Leu Gly Ala Leu His Ser Ala Trp Val Thr Met Pro Trp 120 125 130 ttt caa cac tat cgg aat gtg act gtc ggg cct cca gaa aac att gag 1089 Phe Gln His Tyr Arg Asn Val Thr Val Gly Pro Pro Glu Asn Ile Glu 135 140 145 gtg acc cca gga gaa ggc tcc ctc atc atc agg ttc tcc tct ccc ttt 1137 Val Thr Pro Gly Glu Gly Ser Leu Ile Ile Arg Phe Ser Ser Pro Phe 150 155 160 gac atc gct gat acc tcc acg gcc ttt ttt tgt tat tat gtc cat tac 1185 Asp Ile Ala Asp Thr Ser Thr Ala Phe Phe Cys Tyr Tyr Val His Tyr 165 170 175 tgg gaa aaa gga gga atc caa cag gtc aaa ggc cct ttc aga agc aac 1233 Trp Glu Lys Gly Gly Ile Gln Gln Val Lys Gly Pro Phe Arg Ser Asn 180 185 190 195 tcc att tca ttg gat aac tta aaa ccc tcc aga gtg tac tgt tta caa 1281 Ser Ile Ser Leu Asp Asn Leu Lys Pro Ser Arg Val Tyr Cys Leu Gln 200 205 210 gtc cag gca caa ctg ctt tgg aac aaa agt aac atc ttt aga gtc ggg 1329 Val Gln Ala Gln Leu Leu Trp Asn Lys Ser Asn Ile Phe Arg Val Gly 215 220 225 cat tta agc aac ata tct tgc tac gaa aca atg gca gat gcc tcc act 1377 His Leu Ser Asn Ile Ser Cys Tyr Glu Thr Met Ala Asp Ala Ser Thr 230 235 240 gag ctt cag caa gtc atc ctg atc tcc gtg gga aca ttt tcg ttg ctg 1425 Glu Leu Gln Gln Val Ile Leu Ile Ser Val Gly Thr Phe Ser Leu Leu 245 250 255 tcg gtg ctg gca gga gcc tgt ttc ttc ctg gtc ctg aaa tat aga ggc 1473 Ser Val Leu Ala Gly Ala Cys Phe Phe Leu Val Leu Lys Tyr Arg Gly 260 265 270 275 ctg att aaa tac tgg ttt cac act cca cca agc atc cca tta cag ata 1521 Leu Ile Lys Tyr Trp Phe His Thr Pro Pro Ser Ile Pro Leu Gln Ile 280 285 290 gaa gag tat tta aaa gac cca act cag ccc atc tta gag gcc ttg gac 1569 Glu Glu Tyr Leu Lys Asp Pro Thr Gln Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala Leu Asp 295 300 305 aag gac agc tca cca aag gat gac gtc tgg gac tct gtg tcc att atc 1617 Lys Asp Ser Ser Pro Lys Asp Asp Val Trp Asp Ser Val Ser Ile Ile 310 315 320 tcg ttt ccg gaa aag gag caa gaa gat gtt ctc caa acg ctt tga 1662 Ser Phe Pro Glu Lys Glu Gln Glu Asp Val Leu Gln Thr Leu 325 330 335 accaaagcat gggcctagcc cactggctcc ctggaagaga tcaagccatc ggagctgcta 1722 gagttctgtc tggactttcc agagaccagt attccctttt gctgcctcta aaaggcctgt 1782 ccctgcagac atgagagaca gcaggtctca tgggggtgac aagctttttt ttttttttct 1842 taaagaattt tcaaaatcaa attccagaat gattttacgg agatatccca ggaaaattaa 1902 ggcttctctt aaacactaaa aaggcatgta attgcttgtt agcaaaatgg atatgacaca 1962 tctctgatac ttttttcatt attggttggg ctgagcagtc agaagacctg gtcgtcgtct 2022 tgactttggc aaatgagccg gagccccttg ggcaggtcac acaacctgtc ccagcgaggg 2082 acactgagtg gcccttcatg tacatccatg gtgtgctggc ttaaaatgta attaatcttg 2142 taaatatact cctagtaatt taagattttg tttttaaact ggaaataaaa gattgtatag 2202 tgcatgtttt tt 2214 4 18 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 4 cagcaggctt cccaatgg 18 5 19 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 5 ggaggcccga cagtcacat 19 6 28 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Probe 6 tcaatgtcac tctacgcctt cgagctga 28 7 19 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 7 gaaggtgaag gtcggagtc 19 8 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 8 gaagatggtg atgggatttc 20 9 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Probe 9 caagcttccc gttctcagcc 20 10 339 DNA Homo sapiens 10 ttttagtcga aatgtttgct ttaatagccc ccaaagtaca tattaagctt tcaactctcc 60 cccgcccccc tccccttttt tttgagacgg agtcaccagg ctggagtgca gtggggcgat 120 ctcggctcac tgcaacctcc gcctccagtc aaccccattt tgaaaagggt tttaagggga 180 aggagttaga aagggcccag tgaaggagga ggtggggctc tgggggtggg gggaatggcc 240 tccgagcagg gggagggaga gacagaaact tccagcattt ctaaatggcg tggggtttgc 300 cctggagccg gcggcggtgc acgagtagga agtccttta 339 11 54000 DNA Homo sapiens exon (514)...(1420) Exon 1 11 ggctggtctc caactcctgg cctcatgtga tccgcccacc tcggcctcct aaagtgctga 60 gattacaggc gtgagccacc gcgcctggca tcagtgcata ctttttgaag tgattccaag 120 ttatcgcccg cttttttcgt gtaacatata aatacatctc tgtatctaga aatatccaat 180 gcataattca attgtctgcg aggtatttca tcacgtattt tcacgagcgt ggccaatttc 240 aaaatagttc tacaaagagg aaatgcaaga atgtgggaag agcaaaagaa aagctctatg 300 ttgcaaaacc catttttgct aacgtgtcca gtgggctccc gggacgacct gtttttaaat 360 tcttggtctc cctgcaccgc gtccctcctt tgctgcgcta gctttatgac gcatcttgga 420 agaacagggc agatttaaaa ccctctccca acaggcgtca aacgacatgg tgcaggctcg 480 ggctggggag cgggcctgcg gctgcccagc tgctaaagga cttcctactc gtgcaccgcc 540 gccggctcca gggcaaaccc cacgccattt agaaatgctg gaagtttctg tctctccctc 600 cccctgctcg gaggccattc cccccacccc cagagcccca cctcctcctt cactgggccc 660 tttctaactc cttcccctta aaaccctttt caaaatgggg ttgactggag gcggaggttg 720 cagtgagccg agatcgcccc actgcactcc agcctggtga ctccgtctca aaaaaaaggg 780 gaggggggcg ggggagagtt gaaagcttaa tatgtacttt gggggctatt aaagcaaaca 840 tttcgactaa aggggcgaat cctcgaattg tgcgatcaag cacccgagag gagagttggg 900 gggggtcagg aggggtgggg gctccaggga aagcccgggg gtctgggccg gggtctcgcg 960 gggcccttcc ggaaggatcg cggcccccga aggtgggcgt cccgcggggc tccagtctcc 1020 aggacgttcc gggaggctcc gcgctctggg aggccggctg cgtggggtcc ccgcgctgca 1080 gccgcagagg ccccccaggg ccgcggttcc cggagcggga aagtcccgcg cgggggcggt 1140 ggcctcgggg gcgggacggg gcgggggcgg gggcgcgggc ggccgagccg aatcccctcc 1200 accgggacgc cccgctgctg ctcgggaaga ggcgggccct gcgcgccctg cgctcgccat 1260 ggcggtttgg gcggcgacgt gagcggctcc gcggaccccg agcggggccc cggccgcgac 1320 ctgagccgcc gccgagcgcc cggggccatg cgaccgacgc tgctgtggtc gctgctgctg 1380 ctgctcggag tcttcgccgc cgccgccgcg gccccgccag gtgagccggg cctgggcctc 1440 cgcggcggga cgcgggcgca gccgcagcat gtgggggctg ggggactccc ggatcgtggg 1500 gtggggggaa tctgccgggt gctcagagtg ggtgggaatc tgcggggtgc tcctggtggg 1560 tgggatatgc ggagtgctca gatcaggtgg gaacctgcgg gtgccccagg tgggggtctt 1620 gcggggtgcc cagggctaga ggggcccgct gggagcccgc agcggggctg ggatgggcgg 1680 ccaggagttc cagacaggag ctgggcagca gcaggaagac ggggggcacc cctcctggcg 1740 tcctggccgc cgggacaccc ctctccggga gaggacactc ggtgcccctc cgtgaagccg 1800 gtaacctcgg ctgcgccacc tcccccaccc gcgcgcccgc gccgggaaag ccagcgtggc 1860 cccagtctcc gaatttctcg gaatgaacaa cagcaaattg aatccagggc tccggcgggg 1920 gccgcctttg ctggccactg gttctgcagc ctggcgagac tgcgcttagt ccccgcctgg 1980 agtgcctccc gaaggcctgg ctggaagcta gactcagtcc ctttgtagta gcagcggtgg 2040 agcagggacc agcgtcttgg acgggtgacc cagactcaat tccgactttg gccgagggca 2100 tgtttgacac tgggtgtgaa atctagacag ttcccgcggt catagagatg gggcagcagc 2160 attcaggcag ggctcagaac tgtccgggtc ccatcagtgt tggggcggaa gaggaagagt 2220 gtcaactgag ccaggcattt atttatttta ttgttgtttg agacagggtg tcgctctgtc 2280 gcccaggctg gagtgcagtg ggcagcatct cagctactgc agcctccgcc tcccgtgctc 2340 aagcgatcct cccacgtcag cctcccaaga aggtggtatt attggccacg cctggccaat 2400 ttttgtattt tttgtagaga ggaggtctca ctgtgttgcc caggctgttc ttgtactcct 2460 gagctccagc aatccacccg ccttggcctc tgaaagcgct gggattacag gcttgaggca 2520 ccgtgcccag ctgagccagg cttttaaaac cggttctgtc cctacccaga gagcttctta 2580 cctggcggcc tccttaacct ctgacaccag ctgaccacgc ttatgagcca aacataaaaa 2640 ccaaaagaaa cccaggcttg gtggctcacg cctgtaatcc cagcactttg ggaggctgag 2700 gcagcatcat gaggtcagga gttcgagacc agcttgacca acatggtgaa acccccgtct 2760 gtgctaaaaa tacatagctg ggcgtggtag cgcccgcctg taatcccaac tactcaggag 2820 gccgaggcgg gagaatcact tgaacccgag agctgagatc tcaccactgc actcccgcct 2880 gggcgacaga gcaagactct gtctcagaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaagaa aaagaggaaa 2940 agaccttaat gacaaatgtg tggctagaac attcttgtgt atgtatctgc ttttgttttg 3000 ctgggttctt tcccctgggg agagtgatat cataggagtc tcgagaattt agaagattct 3060 tcccattcga agctataacc ttgtgttgtg ggtttgtttt ttctaccggc attccttgca 3120 aaggcccata agttccgtat ctccttgatc tggggtgcct tgcacttgag gaaattatta 3180 actgcttttc catgggagtc agacagatgg gttcaaatcc tgactctgct tccacttggc 3240 ttcacgtctt gagcaatctg catatgcctc ctccctaggc ctcctcctaa tgagagttga 3300 tgattgtcct agtgtgggat cagcaggcga gtgacttcat gccagagagg agtgactagt 3360 ggtgatctgt ggactgtttg tgacttacct gtgatgagtc cagaggttga aagatgtatt 3420 tagaaactat agtctgacat tgccacaaca tccagctacc tgtccatctt gttaatgatt 3480 aactttaatt gtattctaca aaagttttgg tctatgtgat atgttgcaaa ataaaaaaat 3540 tttaaaaagt gaggccaggc tcggtggctc acacctgtaa tcccagcact ttgggaggct 3600 gaggcgggcg gatcacctga ggtcaggagt tcaagaccag gctggtcaac aatgatgaaa 3660 ccccgtctct accaaaaata caaaaattag ggggcgtgat ggtacacacc tgtgtcccag 3720 ctactcagga ggctgaagcc gaagaatcac ttaaactcag gaggcagagg tgcagtaagc 3780 tgagatcaca ccactgcact ccagcctggg cgacaagagc aagactctat ctcaaaaaaa 3840 caaaaacaaa caaataaaaa aactggctcc attgatcctt tgaaaagtag tagcagctgg 3900 gcacggtggc tcatgcctgt aatcccatta ctttgggagg cagaggtgag cagatcacct 3960 gaggtcagaa gttccagaga ccagtgtggc caacatgtta aaaacccctt ctttactaaa 4020 actacgaaaa ttacccgggc gtggtggttg gcgcctgtaa tcccagctac ctgggaggct 4080 gaggcaggag aatcacttga acctgggagg ggaggttgca gtgagccgaa atcatgcaac 4140 tgcactccag cctgggtgac agagcaagac tctgtctcaa aaaaagaaaa aaaaagaaaa 4200 gaaaagtagt gtagtgcttt aaactaatct ctattttgca actatttgaa cattttcaca 4260 ttaaacagct taaaaacaaa cctaatggat atcttcaaaa gaaacactct tttagtcaaa 4320 acacaaagtg aaaatattca caatgattat atggcaaatg ggtggtagaa aggttttcac 4380 actttcccat aacttaccgg tgtaattttg aaattgcttt tatggtcaga gaaaaaaaaa 4440 agtgttggaa actttttttt tttttttttg agatagtatc tctctccatc gcccaggctg 4500 cagtgcagtg gcatgatcac agctcactgc agtctcaacc tcttgggctc aagccatcca 4560 cccacctcag cctcctgagt agctgggact acacgtgcac gccatcatac ctggctaatt 4620 tttgtatttt tttgtagaga tgaggtttca ccgtgtttcc caggctggtt ttgaactcct 4680 ggggtcaaga gatccacccg cctcagcctc ccaaagtgct aggattatag atgtgaacca 4740 cccagcctgg ctccggaaac agatttttta aagggagaca tagtatctat cccttagagt 4800 tctgtaagag tagaatatgt aaaatatggg acctgtggca atttgtagcc atgagctgtt 4860 aagtagtggc cgtttgcgct agatagaaaa atgtaaccaa cagcacaagt gcagtaaatc 4920 aactgaccag ttagttacct gagtgttgag gaattaaggc ttctatttgt aattgtagca 4980 ggtgctgctg actttttcag gggattggat atgtactgtg ccacagaatt ttttatcatt 5040 atttgctgac ttgaacagcc agagcttctc atatgcttag agaccaccga gaaagacagt 5100 aagtccccag caacttaaaa accattgcat gtgaatgtcc actgggtaag ctcctgagtg 5160 ttcataatct cagcaagtga aaatatcatg tagctggaat gcttttgcca cctttataaa 5220 cgatcatgat agtaacattt attggtcaga cgagatgcca agtgctttat atacattacc 5280 tctcttaatt ttctcagcca ttctttcgaa ctaggttata tctctagttt acttcctgga 5340 aagtcaaacc tttcttgata ggaagagcca aataatctag gtcaataact tgatgtccag 5400 ttgttgttgt tgtttttgag acggagtctc gccctgatgc ccaggtggga atgcagtggc 5460 gctatctcgg ctcactgcaa cctctatctc ccaggttcaa gcgattctcc tgtctcagcc 5520 tcccaagtag ctgggactat aggcacctgc caccatgctt tgctaatttt tatattttta 5580 gtagggacgg ggtttcacca cgttggctag gctggtctcg aactcctgac ctcaagtgat 5640 ccccaccgca cccccccccg ccaacccccg ccagcctcag cctcccaaag tgttgggatt 5700 acaggcatga gctaccatgc ctggcctagt atttcttgaa gagaacaatt tcctggttat 5760 ggctgaggaa tcagaaaatg cctttttatt tctcatctgc aaggtgatgg aggtgggatc 5820 aatgatgttc acctaattga ctttcatcat aatgtccccg cccccaatag aaagatccta 5880 aagggtcagt ccttaattat caagattaaa tgattaatgt taattatatt ttattttatt 5940 atctgtgtgt gataagtgtt aatcaaacta tgctgttaag acccaggata tcctcctatt 6000 ctttttgttt gtttgtttga tatggagttt tgctcttgtt gcccagctgg agtgcagtgg 6060 catggtcttg actcactgca acctccacct cccgggttca agtgattctc ctgcctcagc 6120 ctcccaagta actgtgatta cagtatgcac caccgcacct ggctaatttt tgtattttta 6180 gtagagacag ggtttcacca cgttggtcag gctggtctcg aactcctgac cttaagtgat 6240 ctgcctgcct caacctccca aagtgctggg attacaggca tgagccaccg cacccagccc 6300 ctcctattcc taaatatgca taaagtctga aatgcctgga tctgggatag gtagatcaaa 6360 ggtgttggga tgggtcagga aggcagagtt gttcattcac ctcttcactg gttgttaaat 6420 ggtcctagtg tttggccctg agtgtataaa aatgattaag acaatgaatg tagagaatag 6480 tctacttaga gaccttgtca gaatgtctgt attaccatgt gtactataat agatacacat 6540 acactatgtg ccatgatttt tcaaaagtgc tagaatagaa atatttttaa atgttatagg 6600 acactacttg ccaggaagag ttgaagaaag tccaatagag gaagaacaaa ctgagctggg 6660 ttttgaagca tggagtttca gattaaagaa aagaagaaaa ggccaggtgt ggtggctcac 6720 gcctgtaatc ccagcacttt gggaggccga ggcaggtgga tcactaggtc aggagttcga 6780 gaccagcctg gccaagatgg tgaaacgctg tctctactaa aaatacaaaa attagctggg 6840 cacagtggcg ggtgcctgta atcccagcta ctcaggaggc tgaggcagga gaatcgcttg 6900 aacccaggaa gtggaggtta cagtgagcct agatcgtgcc actacactct agcctgggtg 6960 acagaacaag actgtctcaa aaaaaaaaga ggccgggctc agtggctcac acctgtaatc 7020 ccagcactgt gggaggccaa ggcaggcaga tcaggaggtc aggagatcaa gaccatcctg 7080 gctaataatg gtgaaacctc gtctctccta aaagcacaaa aaaatagcca ggcgtggtag 7140 caggtgcctg taatcccagc tactcgggag gctgaggcag gagaattgct tgaacctggg 7200 aggtggaggt tgcagtaagc cgagatcacg ccactgcgac actgcactcc agcctggggg 7260 acagagtgag actctgtctc aaaagaaaaa aagaaaaagc aatatgcaaa attatgtagg 7320 tccaaaataa aataggatag agtttatggt attttagcga gtggtggtga ttggtctggg 7380 ataagatctt gaaggatttt cagcttactc aagtctgaac tctaccctcc atgccaggaa 7440 tcggcaaagt ttttctgtaa agaactagac agtatgcact cagatggtta cagaagtttg 7500 attaaatggc tgatttctga attaggtatg gcgcttgaga ctctgcctag ggagagtgct 7560 caggtcatgc ttatatgtga aaatgtgtcg ttattttttc ctcttgctct cacacatgtc 7620 ccttggtttc ctaagtgagg ttttgaaaat gaaattttga cagttgagcc aaaatgccct 7680 ctataagcac gtgtatttcc ttctttaaag aattccctct caggaattcc ctctctaatg 7740 tattgtaaga tttggggttc gaccattaac gcattagtcc agttcaataa gcttcatttt 7800 tttttgttgg tagcagggtc cattttatgg gcgaacatac cagtaagttc cttgccttcg 7860 gggaagttta agtttattaa aagcagttac agatatatta cagatgtatt atacaggagg 7920 ttctcaagag gcaagaaggt tcagcaagtt cattgtctta attacaataa tttttttttt 7980 ttttttttga gacagagtct ctctctgtca cccaagctgg agtgcagtgg tgcaatctcg 8040 gctcactgca gcctccacct cccaggttca agtaaattct ctggctcagc ctcccaagta 8100 gcttgaatta caggcaccca ccaccatgcc tggctaattt ttatattttt agtaaagatg 8160 gggtttcacc atcttggcca ggctggtctt gaactcctga cctcatgatc cacccacctt 8220 ggcctcccaa agtgctgaga ttacaggcgt gagccactgc ggccagccta caacaatttt 8280 tttttttttg agacagagtc tcgctcttgt cgcccaagct ggagtgcagt ggcgtgatct 8340 cagctcattg caacctccac tgccgggttc aaatgattct tgtgcttcag cctcccaagt 8400 agctggaaat gcaggtgtgc accactatgc ctggctaatt gttgtatttt tagtagagac 8460 ggggtttcac catgttggcc aggctggttt caaactccca aactcaggtg atccgcccac 8520 ctcagcctcc ctaagtgctg ggattacagg cgtgagccac cacgcccatc caattagaat 8580 aactttttac atgttgtatt tttaaaattc ataactcata atctaaaatt tatgctcagc 8640 acagctaact ttggagacct accaagaatg gtgcaatgat tcagcagcta ctcatggtaa 8700 gacaagagta tctgggtgta acctgtatga aacctgcatc tcacaaccac tgctccttct 8760 ccccagcctt ccagccctgg tgtttcccat cgggggccat gtggcctgga acacagaggc 8820 tgggctgccc aaggacaggc cccctggcct acaaaaagga cagtcttatc acagatgtgc 8880 aatccttggc acttccctgt ggcgtctgca gttctgagac tgattttctt ctataaatgt 8940 gaaaagatag gggatgatag gaaacccgga tataaggcag aacaatgttg cttgggccat 9000 ctcttacacc tcagtgaaac ggaaaatgaa ggaaatggaa ggctggcatg ggaaccccga 9060 cttatacagt gatgcccttt tgctgttcca cgcgtcgctt ggggtggaag cccttccttg 9120 tcccctcgcc acccaccccg gagccccttg gtgcttcctt tctgaactga atgcttagac 9180 tggggaacta gaggtgcccg gaaagggaag tcgggaagaa gagactattc ctgttggttc 9240 ctccccagag atgggagatg gtgaacaggc gtgtggaggg cggaataatg gtccccaaag 9300 atgtccacgc cctcatcctc agagtccgtg aacctgggaa tgtgctgcct gacgtacaaa 9360 agggactccg cagatgtgag taagttaaga gccctgatgt ggggagattg tcttgcattg 9420 ttgggccaag tggccttata ccaccacagg gtccccaaaa gatggagcag aggcagaagg 9480 ttcagtacca gggagacaag aaggatgcgg ccaaccttgc tggaggaagg tgccctgagc 9540 caaagaatgg gagtggcctc tagaagctgg gaaaggcaag gaaatggatt ctccctggag 9600 gctcgagaag gaccccagcc ctgctgataa cttgacttta gtcagtgaga ctgactttaa 9660 acttctgacc agcagaacta taagaaaata aatttagatg tgatttttta aaatttattt 9720 atttttagag atggggggat ctcgctatgt tggccaggct agagtgcaat gattattcac 9780 aggcatgatc atagcacatg cactacagcc tcgaactcct gggctccagt gatcctcccg 9840 cctcagcccc ttgagcagct gggactacag gtgcgcacca ccacgcccag ctaaatctgg 9900 gttgtgtgga gtcactaggt tagtgataat gtgttacagt gataagaaga acctaataca 9960 ggaaataaaa ggagttgtca gattctttga atgcccaacc ctaagcagac actcaccctg 10020 ttcctggaaa gagccgggtc cagctgcgtt ttctcatggc ccaataacaa gaagcagaca 10080 aactaggaag aaagagaatt tattgctgta acaggaaggt cggagataat ccgaccagac 10140 caactcaaag tgtttgattt tctttgtgct tacataggtt tgggttatgt gcctatgtgt 10200 ggtattgcac taagtctatg agtaactaat tttgtttcaa ctagaaagtc agaggccaaa 10260 aatgtgcttt ctaagtctaa tcaagctgtg aggtccccga taccgtcaag gcctgtctcc 10320 taaattctat ttaatgagga ctgtggtacc agagcattta tttatttatt tatttttgag 10380 acggagtgcc gctctgtcgc ccaggctgga gcgcagtggt gcaatcttgg cttgctgcaa 10440 cctccgcctc ccgggttcaa gcgattctcc tgcctcagcc tcccaggtcg ctgggactac 10500 aggtgtgtgc caccatgcct ggctaatttt tctattttta gtagagacag ggtttcacca 10560 tgttggccag gctggcctcg aactcctgac ctcaggtgat ccaccacctc agcgtcccaa 10620 agtgctggga tttcaggcat gagccactgt gcccggccag gagtttattt ctatcttgtc 10680 tcatttacag tttggtccgg agagctgcct tagactctcc aataaatcta ttcaaacagc 10740 tgcctctgtt atcttgactt gctccaggtt tggaagaagc ctgtgtagga tctgtgtttc 10800 atttctggct ttgatgtctg ggcgtcagtt tccctggggt taattattag cttaatgtga 10860 aggcagcatt gtggaaattt ctctgcatag ttcggatgct attcagatct gtctgtgtga 10920 ctgtcatgca ggcctctctg tgtgactgtg agggagcatt gacctgccac cacccccctc 10980 tggaagcatc cagtccccaa ctggctttgg gcattgctag gtcatagcag ccacagcaca 11040 cctggtgggc ctgcctcttg ccacgcagct ttacctgtct gccttcggcc caggatgtca 11100 tgaggcctgc tgtgtgtcag gagaagtgtt gttagctggt tgggtgaagg tcacccagag 11160 ctcataggtg tggaggggag gggcatccta taactaaaca aatggccgca gacttggcaa 11220 ttcatctttc agaagaagag ccagtggtca ggctgtcagc tgatctcttt gaggttgagc 11280 gcatttaccg aaaatgtgtg gcttgaattt cctgctttga attttggaac agcatgtttt 11340 tcaaaccttt cttccacctt ctgggcattt cttattaatc tttttggtca aaagccttat 11400 cttgattatg ttttctttct aagacaaagg gctccctgtg aagtacctgc ttgggaaagg 11460 gaggagttgt ggcagtttct tctaggtccc cgaaggctcc ctgtgaagta cctgcttggg 11520 gaagggagag gttgtggttg tttcttccag gtcaccccaa agagagggat tctgatattg 11580 gtggtgtttc cgggggagta tattctttct ctgtttattg ccccctaacc tttttttttt 11640 tttttttttt tttggagaca gagtctctct ctgtcgccca gactggagtg caatggtgcg 11700 atctcagctc cctgcaacct ctgcctcctg ggttcaagcg attctcctgc ctcagcctcc 11760 tgagtagctg ggattacagg cgctcaccac cgcacctggc taacttttat atttttagta 11820 gagacagagt tttgccatgt tggccacact ggtctcaaac tcctgacctc gagtgatctg 11880 ccttccttgg cctcccacag tgctgggatt ataggtgtga gccactgagc tcgggccgtg 11940 ttgtcctcta actttaatgt gtgtgagaag cagctggaaa gcttgtttaa aatgcagatt 12000 tcctgggggc ctcaggacct gcactttaac cagcacccct gtgattgcga tgctgggggt 12060 ccttgagaga cgacaactct gatggtgccc agaagtcggc gttccttgcc ctcccctgca 12120 gcttgggctt tgcgtacctg atttaggatg tttgtgtgtt tttgcgtgtg tagtgtgtgc 12180 acgtgtgcac gtatttgcgg acatttacca gacacttcct tggtactaaa tctgaaagct 12240 aacgcgtgtc acatgatcac cacgttaatc ttcgccacag ccctgtgggt gtatcattat 12300 tgacccctta ttcctgaaaa agaaaactca agctcagaca ggtgaagtga cctgccccga 12360 gcctaatgca gttactaatg gtagaactgg gaccccagtc cggccagact ccagggccca 12420 ggacctgttc gtaacaactg ggacctgcag gtggaaaggc tgccccaggc gcctcttttc 12480 tttttgtgct gcctgtacca gtagggccat ctttgtagcc aaaagtcggg ggtgtggggc 12540 catgcccagg gggacctggt aatgccattt ctgcactttg acaaaaactg agttgtatga 12600 atgacttaga taatggacat tgaaacattt ttgtaattat ttccctctct ctcctccctt 12660 cctccctctt ctttttctct gtccccctca agaccctctt tcccagctgc ccgctcctca 12720 gcacccgaag attcgcctgt acaacgcaga gcaggtcctg agttgggagc cagtggccct 12780 gagcaatagc acgaggcctg ttgtctacca agtgcagttt aaatagtaag ccggtatttc 12840 tgttggatcc ttgctgggag ctgtgggggc atcgtgcgga accctggggc cacatactag 12900 tccctgcctc tgtgcagggt ttgttatcaa acccgtggga aacacatcgt tcttggagct 12960 tgtaaaatct ctgaggacag aggtttcaca gcctcccact catctgaagg cttaaactac 13020 actggcagtc aggactccgc tgtctaacca cacgggttct tgctttggtg gaaagttcat 13080 tctttcgctg gtttcaggag aaaggttgta aaaataggct tccaccatgg aagaacagga 13140 ggcagctttt agtcttcatc ttcgggctta aaaatcggat tgatttaacc ttatagacca 13200 aatatggcct gatcagaaat ttgtttggtt aattacaatg aattctgagt ttctcaactg 13260 gttttccatt ttgcatatta tcctggctct ttcatctgtc tcttgcctct tcaagctttt 13320 gcagaattgg ccatcacttg atttgcaata taaatacata tagaaagagg gcaaagtcca 13380 catcctttgt tattttttgt ttacgttgtt aagtaggtta attgaagagt aaggtgaagt 13440 tattggctaa gtcattttgt actatttggt aaaccaaatg taaagacatg atgatgtcca 13500 gtgcttgtga gatgggactg gttcatatgt gttcacctga tgctgtttgc agaatcaatt 13560 agcatagccc tttcaaagag gaattctacc agacatttga agtcatggaa atgtccatag 13620 tagttttcca atgtgtgtgt gtgtgtgcac gtgtgcatgt gtgtctgttt gttgttgttg 13680 ttttgaaaca gagtttccct ctatcgccca ggctggaggg caatggcatg atctcagctc 13740 actgcaactt ccacctcctg ggttcaagtg attctcatgc ctcctgagta gctgggacta 13800 caggcatgag ctaccatggc tggctaatag gtatattttt agtagagatg gggttttgcc 13860 atgttggcca ggctggtctc aaattcctgg ccccatcctc aagtgatttg cccgcctggg 13920 cctcccaaag tgctgggatt gcaggcatga gccaccgtgc ccagccttca tagtagtttt 13980 atcctacaca gataattcaa ccccccatca aaaaaaagag agacaaaaac tataatcatg 14040 aagagataca tggaagtgta tattcatatc catcagtagg aaagtgacca attttagcct 14100 gctaacttac gcttgaacac taaaccacag acagccaata gaaaggataa ttagatgtca 14160 tctggtagaa attgcaactc tgtaaacttt ggcatgtatt tgtatttttt atttcttatt 14220 tttgttactt aaaaaaattt tttattcact tttatactga aaagttgcaa gtggtatgta 14280 tttattgtca agaatagaaa ggggccgatc atggtggctc acacctgtaa aagaatagaa 14340 aagtaggcca ggcatggtgg ctcacgcctg taatcccagc actttgggag gccaagacgg 14400 gcggatcacg cggtgaggag atcgagacca tcctggctaa cacgctgaaa ccctgtctct 14460 actaaaaata caaaaaatta gctgggtgta gtggcgggcg cctgtagtcc cagctacttg 14520 ggaggctgag gcaggagaat ggcgtgaacc cgggaggcag agcttgcagt gaaccgagat 14580 cgtgccactg cactccaggc tgggcgacag agcgagactc catctcaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 14640 aagaatagaa aagtaatgtg gaaaaatgac aggcaattga tttgttagag gagtaggttt 14700 ccaggtaact tgtttttctt tttctttttc tttttttttt tttttttgag acaaagtctc 14760 cgtcacccag gctgaaatgc agtggcacga tcttggctca ctggacctcc gcctcccagg 14820 ttcaagcaat tcttatacct cagccttctg tgtagctggg attacaagtg tgcaccaccc 14880 cacccggttc agataacttc tttttttttt ttctgagaca aggtctcact ctgcccccca 14940 ggctggagtg cagtggcatg atcatggctc aatgcagcca caatttcctg gctcaagaga 15000 tcctcctact tcagcctccc aagtagctgg gactatgggc gcacactgct gtacccagct 15060 aatttttaat tttttgaaga gatggggttt tgccatgttg cccaggctgg cctcgaactc 15120 ctgggctcaa gtgatccacc cacctcaacc tcccaaagtg ctgggattac agacatgagc 15180 catcacactg gcgtttctta tttgttttta aatgtccgtt gtaacagtat ttgcttaata 15240 gaaacaggtg ctaaactgag gtttgagagt tatctctaaa tcacattgat ctgttcctcc 15300 agtagttata aattacgaac attaagttac ctgtaattaa tggagcaatc caccagagca 15360 ggctacacaa tttgcaagac ccagtgcaaa atgaaaatgt gagacccttt atttaaaaag 15420 tattaagaat ttcaagatgg caaccgcaga gcatcaaatg aagtgccttt ctgagaacgg 15480 gcttgatgtg agcgcacagg tcacatgtca ggaagttggc cctaccctca gcattcagca 15540 aacattacac cctagagcta aacaagaagc ttgttgtgag agtcacggct gatgtattga 15600 cttaggcttg atgctgattt atgggctcct tggccttgaa caaggaagta cgtttactga 15660 ttttcagagg agatgcttct aaaaatggga taaaacgtta ttgcattaaa aaaaaaaacc 15720 tttgatagag tttcatttga taaactaacc tgtttcactt tgtcttcttt tcaaaaagca 15780 ttttatagat attttctcag ggataaaggt tggttttatt ttttatttat ttatttattt 15840 attttgagac agagtctcgc tctgtcatcc aggctggagt gcagtggcgt gatctcagct 15900 gactgcaact ttcggctcat tgcaacctgc ggctcactgc agcctccgcc tcgtgggttc 15960 aagcgattct cctgcctcag actcctgagt agctgggatt acaggcaccc accactacgc 16020 ccggctgatt tttatatttt tagtagagac agcttttcac catgttggcc aggctggtct 16080 cgaactcctg acctcaggtg atccgcccac ctagcctccc aaagtgctgg aattataggt 16140 gtaagccatc acgcccagcc tagaggttgg ttttagtaaa agaaacatag gttagggtac 16200 atgtgaatat tcctgttaga aaaaggtgaa atcggggatg atttcttttt ctttttcagt 16260 ttgtagattt gataatggaa gagggccttt gcatttgttt ttagatactt tgttttagat 16320 acaaacatgt gtttgggact ttttattagt tttgaggctt gtgagactta aatttccacc 16380 gtgtttctct acaataaagc attgctatga ttaaaaatga agatgccttt gttttttgac 16440 agagtatcaa gaccaaaatt acatggagca cttgatggga gaatttcaag tctaaatcat 16500 gggtagcaga cagtggctgc aggctatttg gctcccagtg tttaattttt tttttcttca 16560 atttgttgcc aacattaaga aatctggact tttcacttag aaaaaaataa taataaataa 16620 caggaaaaaa aaccaatcct gatgtcagtt ttccttgaaa atgcagacag tcgggcagca 16680 aggccccttc cagatcacgc ctcctggtct actgccagcc cctctctcag acctgcccag 16740 ccctgtcttc tcaaacattt gtttttcatt ttcttctgat tttaatagca atccatgttc 16800 tttatagaaa atctggacaa tctagaaaag tagaagaaaa taaaataacc tgttgttcta 16860 cactctaaga ataatcacta ttctcatttt attttacttt ttattttatc ttatttattt 16920 atttatttga gacagagtct tactctgttg cccaggctgg actgcagtgg cgtgatctca 16980 gctcactgaa acctccgccg cctgggttca agtgattgtc ctgcctcagc cttccaagta 17040 gctgggatta caggcgcccg ccaccatgcc tggctaattt ttttgtattt ttagtagaga 17100 tgcagtttca ccatgttagc taggctggtt tcgaactcct cacctgaagt gatctgcccg 17160 cctcagcctc ccaaagtgct gggattacag gtgtgagcca ctgcacccag ccattattct 17220 cattttagac ttttttttct aaattcgttc tcttgtttga aaattgtgtg tgtgtgtgtg 17280 tgtgtgtaaa ccaaaccaga ctggggtcac acttctgggg tctatttcct tttttatttt 17340 aacttgatgt agttaaatgt gagcattttt tcatgtaatt atttctgtgt ggacattgta 17400 tgtttcatta tgtgacatat cacatgtgtt gtatttaact tttccccagt catgggcgta 17460 gacagttggc agcttgtgcc tgtcctaagt catgacctcg tacatgaatc atatctggtt 17520 attttcttac acttctagaa gagaggttgc tgggtcaaag gggatggact tacttaatgt 17580 ttttgtgagt gacctcacaa aggctggaca tagctcttga gtcccaggga caggctgagc 17640 cccggcagtg gcaggggttt gggggagcag gccctgcact gcatttgagg aagagccgtg 17700 catgttgctc ttggaggagg aggagcgggg cggttagagg gtctttaggt atctgtctac 17760 cttgaaaaag aaatcactca cctcttccag agcacgcccc tcacccccga cctgagagga 17820 gaggctcgtg gtttgcgatc cctctcccca ttagggtctg tcaccctggg gctgagtagt 17880 aggtatctat ggcgggtgtc ttcatggaag ccctggccac gcatcttgaa gtggctttca 17940 tcttgtccct tgcaacttaa gcggaagatg catcttggag agggtcggag gtacagttag 18000 aagcatgtgt ggtacgtgaa agccggtggt cgtggggata cagagcggtc tccagtctcg 18060 tctcctgtct cccatggcct tgctttctgg gccatagttg ctgttgtagg gggatactgt 18120 ccgctgcccc tactcaggct cccagcagcc acctccttgg cctttctgaa gtctgtcacc 18180 taaggcaaag aggtcagagc tggggactag agtcccacgt gggagtgtgg cattgggact 18240 ctgggaaagg cactgtcatt cacaaggatg tgtggccatg tatttggcaa ggttttcata 18300 tgggtgagac aaatcctctt tgaatgggca gctatgggtg gaaagaaact ccgcaccagc 18360 aggaagcagg actggagttt gtattaacac agttccattc ccaaaacata ggctacagag 18420 actgagtttg aagtattaaa atcagttatg ggatggaatg ggagaaaata tttgcaaatc 18480 atctatctga caagggactt gtatccagaa tagataacga actcttacaa ttcaacaatt 18540 agaagacaaa taacccaatt aaaaaccaca gctgggcaca agggatcaca cctgtaatcc 18600 cagcactttg ggaggccaag gcaggaggat tacttgagtc taggagttca agaccagcct 18660 gggcaacaag gagagacccc caactctaca aagaaattaa aaataaaaat aacagtagca 18720 gccaagcaca gtggctcacg cttgtaattt cagcactttg ggaggccgag gtgggcggat 18780 cacatgaggc caggagtttg agaccagcct gaccaacata gtaaaacccc gtttctacta 18840 aaaatataaa aattaaccag gcatgatggt gcatgcctgt aatcccagca cattgggagg 18900 ccaaggcagg tggatcactt gaggtcagga gtttgagacc agcctggcca acatggtgac 18960 accccatctc tactaaaaat acaaaaatta cctgggtgtg gtggctcaca cctgtagttc 19020 cagctactcg ggaggctgag gcacaagaat cacttgaacc caggaggtgg aggttgctgt 19080 gagccaagat tgcgctactg cactccagcc tgggtgacag agcaaaactc catctcaaaa 19140 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaagcggg ggggaactgt atggtacata taaattgtat ctcaataaac 19200 ctgcgttttg aacaaaagct ctggggaaac tattacacat gaaacagaga attctgtgaa 19260 ttgaaatcct tttttccttc ccagcaccga cagtaaatgg ttcacggccg acatcatgtc 19320 cataggggtg aattgtacac agatcacagc aacagagtgt gacttcactg ccgccagtcc 19380 ctcagcaggc ttcccaatgg atttcaatgt cactctacgc cttcgagctg agctgggagc 19440 actccattct gcctgggtga caatgccttg gtttcaacac tatcggaatg gtaagagaac 19500 ttgagtatag aacttccttt atactttcca ggttttcttc acttgcggta tcgactccac 19560 acacctctgt cctgcctgtc accctaaatg accagcagac aaatgggtag gacagtcaaa 19620 cccacactct gaccttggag gctgatgcta agggagtgtg atttgctaaa ccaggggttg 19680 gccaactaca gcctgcaggc caaatcgggc ccaccacttg tttttgtaaa taaagtttta 19740 ttggaacaca cagttacatc catcttttat tgtgtctatg actgctttca cactacaatg 19800 gtagagtagt tgcaatagca gctgttgagc ctgcaaagtc taaatttact gtggctcttt 19860 actgaaaaag tttgccaacc tcatgctaga agggatgcta gcatatctct ctgatcaccc 19920 ttacttattc tggtgcaact tcttttgtgt tgcagaatag gcaccttgaa tggtgcctgg 19980 catgtagtag gtattcagta aatatttgtt gaatgactga gtgaacaaat atgtccccag 20040 atattggaag gagacagaag aaccctcaga ttccagttcc tacatttgtt cctccagtaa 20100 ttcatttgtc acgtagtcag ccatgccaga tgtttcttcc gtgtctggtt tatgcacaca 20160 cagggcatga aacttacatg gatcttgatt tagacaaact aatgtataag acaattgaaa 20220 tgtgatcacc gtctagatat ttgatatata atgaacaatt ttattgttga cttattttca 20280 gtgttataat ggtgttttgg ttatgatttt taaaggagga ggaggtctgg ttaagatgtt 20340 aaagtttatg ttatgtgtat tttaccacaa taaaaaattg ggggaataaa aagagttcct 20400 gctgggcgcg gtggctcacg cctataatcc cagcactttg ggaggccgag gcaggcagat 20460 cacttgaggt caggagttcg agaccagcct ggccaacatg gtgaaacccc atctctacta 20520 aaaacacaaa aattagctgg atgtggtggt gcatacctgt aatcccagct acttgggaag 20580 ctgaggtagg agaatcgctt gaaccgggga ggcagaggtt gtggtgagct gagattgcac 20640 cattgcactc cagcctgggc aacaagagtg aaactccatc tcaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 20700 aaaaaaagca aaataatcca aagaacagga gggacaagga caaagcttcc aggcatagaa 20760 gaaacaaaat tggccataag ttgacagttg attcagttgg gtaattagta catgagtgtt 20820 tgttaatgat cttccctcta cttttttttt tttttttttt ttgagacgga gtctctctct 20880 cttgcccagg ctggagtgca gtggcgcaat cttggctcac tgcaagctcc acctcccagg 20940 ttcacgccat tctcctgcct cagcctcccg agtagctggg actacaggcg cccgccacca 21000 cacccggcta attttttgta tttttagtag agatggggtt tcaccatgtt agccaggatg 21060 gtcttgaact cctgaccttg tgatccgccc gcctcggcct cccaaagtgc tgggattaca 21120 ggcgtgagcc accgcaccca gcctatcttc tctctacttt ctatgtgttt gaaattttct 21180 gtaataaaaa gttttttttt gttgttgttg tttttgaggt ggagtcttgc actgtcgccc 21240 aggctggcgt gcagtggtgc agtctcggct cactgcaacc tctgcctcct gggttcaagt 21300 gattctccct cccgggttca agtgagcctc ccaagtagct gggactacag gtgcacgcca 21360 ctatgcccgt ctaatttttt gtatttttag tagagacggg atttcaccat gttgtccagg 21420 ctggcctcta actcctgacc tcgtgatccg cccatctcag cctcccaaag tgctaggatt 21480 acaggcgtga gagccaccgt gcccggccaa taaaaagttt tttagagagg atcatgcctg 21540 taatcttagc ccattgggag gctgaggtgg gaggatcgct tgagctcagg agttcaagat 21600 gagcctgggg aatatagcaa gaccccatct ctattttttt ttttttttaa tcagtggttt 21660 gtgctaggta ctgtgaggga cagaaacaga gaagacaggg caatcctgcc agctcctcgt 21720 ctgctgtgga caagccattt gtccttgggt gccaaaccac cctccatttg agctataaag 21780 tgtcaaataa gtgggaatta ggagtatgca aacaagtaat gatggctggg cgcagtggct 21840 cacccctgca atcccagcac tttgggaagc tgaggcaggc agatcatctg tggtcaggag 21900 ttcaagacca gtctggccaa catggtgaaa ccccatctct actaaaaata caaaagttag 21960 ccgggtatga tggcacacga ctgtaatccc agctacttgg aaggctgagg caggagaatc 22020 tcttgaacct gggaggtgga ggttgcagtg ggccaagatg acaccattgc acatcagcct 22080 gggtgacaga gcgaggctct gtcatttaaa aaaaaaaagg aatgatactt accgccactg 22140 cccagggatc aagagaaggt aacagaagca ggatgtatcg tgacagtggg tccggtgcca 22200 gccagctgcc gcttccggcc ggagtcaagc acccatgttt ctgttagtta ctggctgggc 22260 tgctgttctc tgccctcgtg cttgaaaagc ttgacacagt ggtggtctca tgtcacatct 22320 gccactttca cctctgctgg tggcgttaga atcagtaatg gatatggagg tggtttacca 22380 agcagaggag tgagatggtg gttggagggg gcaggcttta gcatcaccct cacctgggtt 22440 catatcccaa ctctgccatt tattggctgt gttactgtgg gcaagtagtg tcacctcctg 22500 gcttccgttt cctcgtctga gaaatgggga taaccttatt tgtttttttg ttttgttttg 22560 ttttttgaga cagtctcgct ctgtcgccca ggctggagtg cagtggagcg atctcagttc 22620 actgcagcct ccgcctccag gtttaagtga ttctcgtgcc tcagcctccc cagtagctag 22680 gattactggc atgggccacc acaccccagt taattttggt tttgtttttg tgagatggag 22740 tttcactctt gtcacccggg ctggagtgca gtggcccgat ctcggctcac tgcaacctct 22800 gcctctcagg ttcaagcgat tctcctgcct cagcctcctg agtagctggg attactggca 22860 tgcaccacca tgccccacca tgcccagcta atttttgtat ttttagtaga aacggcattt 22920 ctccatgttg gccagactgg tcttgaactc ctgacctcaa gtgatctgcc cacctcagcc 22980 tcccaaagtg ctgggattac aggtatgagc caccatgccc atcccgtgat acccttattt 23040 ggcagtgaca ctgatcgtga gaggcttcgt ggaaaggcca tttacctgga gactccacac 23100 attgtcgtcc agtgttccct agagccagcc ttcctccagt gctgtgagag gaggcagatt 23160 gttctcgcct ctagatgagg tttactgggt tcatgtcaga ttccgggcca ggactctctt 23220 cagaagggca ggtctgagcc ctgtgttttc agccgtgcag tggccagctg tggctggtgt 23280 ccacactccc atgtgctaat ggagatgccc aaagaatgtg tccaaagcca gtccctgcag 23340 gtgcttctgc aacgcacttc tgcacactct gctcacttag ctgggacaag ggaagctgga 23400 gaacgtgtgt gctggtgtcc ctgggcaggc tgagtggaag agcattttgt cactagcagt 23460 caatccacaa acatcactat ggctggtggt gggccaggcc tgacctcact tctgccactg 23520 ggagttgtct ggacttagca cctccaccag aacaaatgag ggggcacaac tacaaactca 23580 gcagttcttt tgcacagaga gaagcttggc cagatcatac acctaaccct caccaacctg 23640 gagtgcccag gggagagaat ccagccctgc tgttgtgaac acacagtgac aggattgtct 23700 ccttgtgtaa aatgtgcaga cattggtctc ttagaacttc gaggacccaa actgtacttt 23760 gatctgagtt tctctggtga attatacaat gtgcatgctt acttaataaa tgcttgataa 23820 cccctcattg atagcacatc atgagtcaca gtcctagcct gacctgtgaa ttatatgaaa 23880 agcctgaaca aatagactta catggcaaca cttctcagtt attgtgttta aatatagtat 23940 gggcatggtg ctcacgcctg taatcccagc actttgggag gccaaggcag gcggatcacc 24000 tgaggtcagg agtttgaaac cagcctggcc aacatagtga aaccctgtct ctactaaaaa 24060 tacaaaaatt agccgggtat ggtggcgtgt gcctgtaatc ccagctacat gagaggctga 24120 ggcaggagaa tcgcttgaac ctggaaggcg gaggttgcag tgagttgaga ttgcaccact 24180 gcactccagc ctgggtgata tgtgcgagat tccatctcaa aaatgaataa ataaataaat 24240 aggccaggcg cggtggctca cacctgtaat ctcagcactt tgggaggctg aggtgggcgg 24300 atcacgaggt caggagttcg agaacagcct ggccaacatg atgataccct gtttcttcta 24360 aaaatataaa aattagccag gcatggtggc acacgcctgt tgtaatccca gctacttgag 24420 aggctgatgc aagagaattg cttgagcccg ggaggtggag gttgcagtga gccgagatcg 24480 cacaactgca ctctagcctg ggcgacagag caaaactgtc tcgaaaaaat aataataaat 24540 aaagagatag ataaaaacgt gtgtgtatat atctacaccc actatatata tatatataca 24600 tatatatata gcattatata atacattgta ttatatctat aatacatatg tgtatgtgtg 24660 tggttttctc tttgtaattc tttttcagtg actgtcgggc ctccagaaaa cattgaggtg 24720 accccaggag aaggctccct catcatcagg ttctcctctc cctttgacat cgctgatacc 24780 tccacggcct ttttttgtta ttatgtccat tactgggaaa aaggaggaat ccaacaggca 24840 agagcatctt tcttttttgt ttggattttc ttttctttgc agtttctggc ttagcaaaag 24900 aaagaaacct ttaacatggg caagaacagg gtgtctccat gtccccgtgt ccccatagag 24960 gctgagccct gagcctgttt tcattgtcct cttcaagacc tgtttttcca ctcggtttgc 25020 tgagacctcc ctccgccagg ctgatctgaa gggccagcca tcctttgatg tcactctgtg 25080 tcccttgtgt ggggttgaga ctttgccggt gccctgctta cgatgccttt gccacgctct 25140 gtagtttgga ggaggtttta gtgggcctgg ttctccatga ggaatccaca actacagcct 25200 gcaaggctta actgtataaa tgtttgaaca gtttgtgaaa agggcacatg cgaaatcggg 25260 gggaaacaga gggagaaaga gctttccaga gagcagtacc agcaggtatg agaaggcgtg 25320 gcatacgtgg agaactgcag gtgcttagat tggtcagaaa tgcaatccac aaggggctgt 25380 ggcaggtgct cacgttgaca gaggtgcatg acatcagagc ggcctggtca gcctcgggga 25440 gtataggaaa aagcatcatg gtcttgaagc atctccagtg cctaaattat cctagctgca 25500 tttaaggagg ttctgttatc tatgggaact tcatgatttc ctaaattcaa cattatgatg 25560 gtttttgata ataagagctt acatttattg agagcttcct ttgtgtttgg ctctgggcca 25620 gaattttaga tacttcatct catttcatct tttttttttt tttttttttg agctggagtt 25680 tcgctcttga tgcccagcta gtttttgtat ttttagtaga gacagggttt ttaccacgtt 25740 ggtcaggctg gtctcagact cctgacctca ggtgatctgc ccaccttggc cacccaaagt 25800 gctgggatta caggcatgag ccaccgtgcc cggcccattt catctttata ctaatccgtt 25860 tgcagagaga gaatccaagt cgttaagtgg cttgcctcag gtcagcagcg aatcactggc 25920 agagcagagc agagcagaga tgcctagctt cagagccctg ctcttgacca ccatcttttt 25980 ctgccacacg ctttgtatct gcacttctcc ttcatttttt tttttttttt aattattgtt 26040 ctttttttga gacagtctca ctgtcgccca ggctagagta ctgtggtacc atcttggctc 26100 actgcaacct ctacctcccc ggctcaagca gtccacccac ttcagccacc cgagtagctg 26160 gaactacagg cctgtgccaa ccacacctgg ctaatatttt taaatttttt tttatagaga 26220 tggggttttg ccatgttgcc caggctggtc tcgaactcct ggtctcaagc gatctgccca 26280 cctcagtctc caaaagtgct gaggttacag gcatgagccc gttcccagcc tcctcttcat 26340 ttcattatgg ggaatatgaa actgggaaga gtgagactca ctgaaaaaca gacttagcat 26400 ctaggaaata gggaaaaatc atttctccat atcagagctc aagatctggg tcgattagaa 26460 tagagggagc ctggcagaat ccagaagaga gactctgcct cttccaagtc tgtcctctcc 26520 aactggatac ggtgccggaa atgcaagaga taggatgggc cctctggcca cgcttttctc 26580 caccctttgg ttgctttctt cactcgaggg caccgtgttg ccatgctccc tccccaaggg 26640 cccgcccata cttttgtttt tttaggatgg agtccatcca cttctctgca ctgagtcagc 26700 ccccagaggg cgagttgcca cttgtatcct agagctgggc agggctgccc agcactggag 26760 aactcagctc caggaccctg gggccagcct tgttgagcag caagctctaa tgaagagcac 26820 acagaacagg cttccactgc ctgggacccg cttagcacca tgtcacttag cctctctggg 26880 ctgcagcttc ctcgtgtata aaatgaaaca actgagctat aagctggagc ctgtgaagag 26940 gagcagccgt gagggccccc aagtcccttt cctccatttg accagagcat ctgtacttgg 27000 cttccatgat caaaaggttc aaggatgaaa atgactctga aagccaccaa tgtgatcttt 27060 gttccagctg tgagtctgtg tgttagggtc cccaagaccc accctagatc gctcaaagga 27120 ctcccaggac tcagcacaga gtcacactct gatttcgttt tgagacagaa tttcactctg 27180 tctcccaggg tagagtgcag tgccacaatc tcggctcacg ggttcaagag attttcctgt 27240 ctcagcctcc acatctgtgc ctggcccata ctctgatttt ttatagcaaa aggatgcaaa 27300 gcaaaatcgg caaagggaag aggcacatgg aggaaagtcc gcaggtgtcc aggggtaggc 27360 ttccaggagc ccttcctgag ctgagtcacg caggatacac ttcattgctc caccagcaag 27420 ctgtgactgc acatgtgaac tgttgtctgc cagggaggct tatgagagac ccagcgccca 27480 gggctttttc tgggggctgg ccacatacgc accctctgtg tagcgtatgc caaaattccg 27540 actcccagaa ggaaaacaga tgttcctcat aaagaaaaca cattgtgcaa acagtgtagg 27600 gacggtaagc caccttacca gtttgggaat gggagggata aacttgaaat ccaaattccc 27660 aggctgggcg cggtggctta cgcctgtaat cccagcactt tgggaggccg aggcaggcag 27720 atcacttgag gtcaggggtt cgagacaggc ctggctagca tggtgaaaac ccatctctac 27780 taaaaataca aaaattagcc aggcgtggtg gtgggcacct gtgatcccag ttactcagga 27840 ggctgaggca ggagaattgc ttgaacctgg gaggcagagg ttgcagtgag tcgagatcac 27900 actactgcac tccagcctgg gcaacggagc aagactccgt ctcaaaaaac aaacaaacaa 27960 aaaacgcaca caaattccca gatgtcagct aagggttgac ctggaaatca ggcccttcaa 28020 agggcattag tgttaggcct gttacgttag ctcttctgca gtctgtgact ctaaatttta 28080 ggaattccaa ttgaatgctg aaataaaccc aaagggaatt tttgtcctta aaatcgtgtc 28140 ttcctctgcc ctggcagtcc aacaccatta aacagaagaa aagaaaatgt aaaaccatca 28200 agtaatacta ttattcatag atcatacaat tacttttata tttttatttt ttaattttaa 28260 tttttcagag acaatttcac tctgtcaccc aggctggagt gcagtggtgc agtcatagct 28320 cactgtagcc tccaattcac aggctcaagc catcctccca ctttggcctt ccgagtagct 28380 gggacttata ggcatgcacc accatgacca gcttattttt ttattattat tttctgtaga 28440 gacggaggga gggggtctca ctatgttacc caagctcaaa ctcctggact caagtgatcc 28500 tcccacctca gcctcccaaa gtgctggaat tacaggcatg agccaccatg cctggcctat 28560 ttttgtattt taaaaaataa caacatgttc tgtatttgaa taatctgcct tttttcagtt 28620 aacaatttag cagccttgtc ttcccatgtt ttcaagcata tgttatacca ccatttcatg 28680 tggctgtagt ggattatatt gtatctcaaa attagaaaac agttctttgc aagaaaccct 28740 atactgccat aatagggtat cgctgttttc cactttggta tgggacaatg acagccttgc 28800 caggacaaca ggagccattg cctggaagac caggtgggga ggcagcaagg cctgctcaag 28860 gcagcagagg gatgcgcaga ggagacacag aaccttccta gagtctaggg tccagttgtc 28920 tcctgatgac ataaatcctt aaggtcattt tagctgaaac tataggaggc tcaagcacat 28980 ttcggtcaaa ctagaagcag gttgggaatg aaaggaacat tatttcccag aataattttt 29040 tctctgttga ctaacttgag gtatctagat taaccgtgag atacaaaatg ttggccaggc 29100 gcggtggctc acgcctataa tcccagcact ttgggaggcc gaggcaggtg gatcacctga 29160 gatcaggagc tcgagaccag cctgggcaac atggtgaaac cctgtttcta ctaaaaatac 29220 aaaaatgagc cagacatgat ggtgggtgtc tataatccca actactcagg agttggaggc 29280 aggagaattg cttgaacctg ggaggcggag gttgcagtga gccgaggtcg caccattgcg 29340 gtccagcctg gtgacagagc gaaactccat ctcaaaaaaa aaaagaaata caaaatgttt 29400 gttttgagat ggagtcttgc tcttcatcca ggctggcgca atctcagctc actgcaccct 29460 ctgcctcctg gtccaagtga ttctcctccc tcagcctccc atgtagctgg gattacaggt 29520 gtgtgccacc acatccagct aatttttgta cttttagtag agactgggtt ttgcaatgtt 29580 ggccaggctg gtctcttaac tcctgacctc aggtgatcca cccaccctgg cctcccaaag 29640 tggtgggatt ataggcgtga gccaccccat ccagcccaaa atgttaaagg agaaaaagat 29700 tatcctagaa attgggattt actgaagtct agttactaca atgggcactc tgagacctca 29760 cagccagaaa cacagttcta aagctatcag cctctttggc cacacaacac accaattttc 29820 acacataaaa tgtgtccact gccagccagt gacccactaa aaatggcatc ttgttcttct 29880 ttggttgtcg tgttcacagt gaatttgagg aaacatcaga aaagatgtag gcagcttggc 29940 catgttcatt tacatgtgtg cttgtgatgt ttttaaaaca ggtcaaaggc cctttcagaa 30000 gcaactccat ttcattggat aacttaaaac cctccagagt gtactgttta caagtccagg 30060 cacaactgct ttggaacaaa agtaacatct ttagagtcgg gcatttaagc aacatatctt 30120 gctacgaaac aatggcagat ggtaaaatat accttcttat gtcctttctg aactgggaaa 30180 agaatactcc tccaatagtg aaatcgggga atgcttatga ggtcatgggt ggtgggagtg 30240 gggagaccca gtgagaagag tgctgaactg caggaataat gagcttgtgc tgagatttgc 30300 agtagtggag gctaccagac agctaccact tgctttattt cattacagga ttgactttag 30360 ctattaatgt aagcatacca ggtgagggtg gggggtagag ggacttgccc attttactag 30420 gacaggaatg ctctttaagc agcatggatg gaacattaac tgatgtttgt gttgtgcgta 30480 ggaagatcat tctgttcact ttcgtgtcct ctttttagcc tccactgagc ttcagcaagt 30540 catcctgatc tccgtgggaa cattttcgtt gctgtcggtg ctggcaggag cctgtttctt 30600 cctggtcctg aaatatagag gcctgattaa atactggttt cacactccac caagcatccc 30660 attacagata gaagaggtac gtgtgcacac atctcttttt ttttttttga gacagggtct 30720 tgctctgttg cccaggcggg agtgtcatgg tacaatctct gctcactgca gcctccatct 30780 cccaggttca agcgattctc ctgcctcagc ctcctgagta gctggtatta caagtgctca 30840 ccaccatggc ctgctaattt ttgtattttt ggtagaaaca gggttttgct atgttggcca 30900 gactggtctc aaactcctga cctcaagtga tccacccacc tcagcctccc aaagtgctgg 30960 gattacaggc gggagccact gcgcccggcc acgcagacat cttaatggtg acacatcagg 31020 gccccactgc ccctggcaac ccctaagagt gcagctgtgg gcaaagccgt ggacacagag 31080 atttgggtta caaatggtat ggggttgttt gtacacccat gttcatgttg acacgattca 31140 caacagccaa aaggtggaag cactccggtg tcgttgaagg attaatagat aaatctttaa 31200 tagatggtct ttccatacaa tggaatatca ttcagcctta gaaaggaagg ggattgtgac 31260 acatcctacc acacacatgg accttgagga cattatgctg agtagagtag ggcagtcaca 31320 aaaggatact gtctgcttcc acttaaatga ggtccccaga gtcatcaaat ccataaagac 31380 aggaagtaga atggtggttg cggtggtgga gggagggaag tgggaagttc gtgttgaatg 31440 gggccagagt ttcagttctg gggctgtaca gagttctgga gatggatggt ggtcatgatt 31500 gcacaatgtg aatgtgcttg gcactaccga actgtacacc taaaaagagt tatgatggta 31560 cattttatgt tatgtgtatt ttaccacaat ttaatttttt ttttttaatg gcatggggtt 31620 ggctaaaaag gtggcctggc ctggagattg gctgcagtag acccctctcc gaggcagcag 31680 gtctcctctg ctgtctggag aatgctccag ggaagtggcc tggctggagg acgtgaaggc 31740 ggtggagaca gtgatcagga gcttgagctt tggggcccac agggtgctta ggagggccct 31800 aaggcagagt caacacccag agctgtgagt gccaggcccc gtgtacccat tgcccagtgg 31860 gtattgctaa tatttgaaag gacttgagaa agaacagtag cgtgggtctt gtggaaagtc 31920 ttattttcct gcataacccc agccccctga ggctctgtga ggccattggg ccttctgagg 31980 acacggtcag gacattttgg ggatcagagg cgagctgaga gaagaacatt taaaaagcat 32040 ttgcagccgg gcgcagtgac ccacacctgt aatcccagga cttggggagg ccagggtggg 32100 cagatcacct gaggtcagga gttcgagacc agcctggcca acatggtgaa accctgtctc 32160 taccaaaaat acaaaaatta gccgggcgtg gtggtgggcg cctgtaatcc cagctacatg 32220 agaggctgag gcaggagaat tgcttgaacc caggaggtgg aagttacagt aagccaatat 32280 cgcaccatag cactttagct tgggtggcag agcaagactc catctcaaaa aaataaaata 32340 aataaaaagc atttgcttct ggaggcttca cattattctt gggtaaacct agagtaaagg 32400 tgttggaagc agaatgttac tcagttacat gtgggatgaa cagaggttag ataaggtcca 32460 agtctgcaga aacatagcag cactttcaga aagaacccta gtcacttgtt ccttcatctg 32520 ccatgatgta ttgtaggtac acaggcagta tacagattcc ctactagaac ctccctggtt 32580 aatattgtca caaaatcaca gctcctaaca ggtctcagaa tcttacttgc agtaataatc 32640 tctctctctc ctggtagaac taccagctga gccccagtac atgaatatac tatgagtcat 32700 tcctctgaga catgaacaga aaacacaggc ctgtcagttc acttttctag gaaagcataa 32760 agaacatccg ccaaaggtct ctgagttaca tgggaacagt gaatcatgtt tcacttataa 32820 ttctggggtt tcacaagggt acatgttttg gttttgttcc tctttcagtc agtcagctac 32880 aagcttattg tcttccagta tctttcagca tttccaagag ctagacacta gattcttggt 32940 aacttggtga atctatggct aagcctaaag cctgcgggag caaaagggaa attaatcgct 33000 gggaaacacc cctttatatg ttaaggccta aggccctcgc tcccagattc tctgcttgct 33060 gtgcgctggt gcaaggggag gggtggagga gtgcctgaga ccaatgcttg tgaacttgcc 33120 ctctttttcc ccatcacagc tgaacaagag cccccagtcc ctccttcact gaaaggttac 33180 aattttagag acgtcttaag attaataacc cacaggccta cactgagggt tgcaaggaag 33240 aacttgcttt tcttccaatc agaaaatcag aagaaaaaaa caaaacttgc ttttcctgag 33300 ttttgccctt ttaaactctc agcatattaa catggtcagc cctgggatga gtattaaagt 33360 gattactgag atgaggggta aggagtattc aactattaga agttgttggc tgggtgaggt 33420 ggctcatgcc tgtaatccca gcactttgag aggccgaggt gggtggatca tgaagtcagg 33480 agatcgagac catcctggcc aacagggtga aaccctgtct ctactaaaaa tacaaaaatt 33540 acccaggcat ggtggcatgc gcctgtagtc ccagctactt gggaggctga ggcaggagaa 33600 tcacttgaac ccaggaggcg gaggctgcag tgagctgaga tccacgccac tgcactccag 33660 cctggcaaca gagcaagact ccgtctcaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aattagccag 33720 ccgtggtggt gcacgcctgc aatcctagct acttggttgg gaagctgagg caggagaatt 33780 gcttgaaccc aggaggcgga agttgcagtg agccgagatc gcgccactgc actccagcct 33840 gggcgaaaaa gagactgact caacaacaat aaaaaattgt tgccgggtgc agtggctcac 33900 acctgcaatc ccagcacttt gggaggccga ggcgggcgga tcacctgagg tcaggagttc 33960 gagacagcct gaccaacatg ggaaaccccg tctctactta aaatacaaaa ttagcagggt 34020 gtggtggtgc atgcctgtaa tcccagctac ttgggaggct gaggcagagg ttgcagtgag 34080 atgagatcgt gtcattgcac tccagcctgg gcaacaacgt gaaactccgt ctcaaaaaaa 34140 aaaaattgtt tcattgttga ataaaaagaa aaataagtta tgtcattggt ggacagaatc 34200 aacttatatc tgaataaaat aactatacca attaaaacta aagtaggcca ggcgtagtgg 34260 ctcacgccta taatcccagc actttgggag gccaaggtgg gtggatcatt tgcgatcagg 34320 agtttgagac cagcgtggcc aacatagtga aaccctgtct ctactaaaaa tacaaaatta 34380 gccaggcaag gtggtgggca cctgtagtcc cagctacttg gaggattgag gcaggagaat 34440 cgcttgaacc tgggaagcag aggttgcagt gagctgagat cacaccacta tactccagcc 34500 taggcaagag taagactcca tctcaaaaaa aaaataaaaa taaaaataaa ataaaaacaa 34560 aaactaaagt taaaaggtct ggtatactga actggtaaac taattacaat tttgctttcc 34620 aacctcctca agtatttaaa agacccaact cagcccatct tagaggcctt ggacaaggac 34680 agctcaccaa aggatgacgt ctgggactct gtgtccatta tctcgtttcc ggaaaaggag 34740 caagaagatg ttctccaaac gctttgaacc aaagcatggg cctagcccac tggctccctg 34800 gaagagatca agccatcgga gctgctagag ttctgtctgg actttccaga gaccagtatt 34860 cccttttgct gcctctaaaa ggcctgtccc tgcagacatg agagacagca ggtctcatgg 34920 gggtgacaag cttttttttt ttttcttaaa gaattttcaa aatcaaattc cagaatgatt 34980 ttacggagat atcccaggaa aattaaggct tctcttaaac actaaaaagg catgtaattg 35040 cttgttagca aaatggatat gacacatctc tgatactttt ttcattattg gttgggctga 35100 gcagtcagaa gacctggtcg tcgtcttgac tttggcaaat gagccggagc cccttgggca 35160 ggtcacacaa cctgtcccag cgagggacac cgagtggccc ttcatgtaca tccatggtgt 35220 gctggcttaa aatgtaatta atcttgtaaa tatactccta gtaatttaag attttgtttt 35280 taaactggaa ataaaagatt gtatagtgca tgttttttaa agtctatgtg aagtgttttc 35340 tttattgtag cctattttct gcagagtttc agctttctaa aattactcaa tctaaacttg 35400 ttttttctta aataacacct gctagagcta ctgaggcctc atgggaactc agcaaacact 35460 tcctatggat gtcacttgat cctccaaagg ttataaagaa ggccagggcc tagtgcagtg 35520 gcccacgcct ataatcccag cactttggga ggctgaggtg ggtggatcac ttgaggccag 35580 gagttctaga cccacctggg caacatggtg aaaccctgtc tctatgaaaa atgcaaaaat 35640 tatccaggca tgatgacatg cacctgtagt cccagctact tgagaggcta aagtgggagg 35700 atgctttagc ctgggaggcg gaggttacca tgagccgaaa tgatgccact gcactccagc 35760 gtgggaggca gagcgagacc ctatctcaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaagagggc tgggcatggt 35820 ggctcatgcc tgtaatccca gcactttggg aggtcaagat gggaggatcg cttgaggcca 35880 ggagtttgag aacagcctgg gcaacatagt gagaccttgt tttcacaaaa aataaaaaat 35940 tagctagtcg tggtggtgca cacccgtagt cccagctact caggaggctg agaccagagg 36000 atcatttgag cctaggagtt aggagttcaa ggctgcagtg agcaatgatt acaccactac 36060 attccagcct tggcaacaga gcaagagacc ctgtctcaaa aatataaaag ttataagggg 36120 gatttgcaga aggcacatta gcacttcatt tatatgtgac aagtcacact gtgttgacca 36180 aggcagggat ttgtgggcaa taaagagaat taactgatta atcaatagta atgttatcta 36240 ctgagcacgc aagtcatctg attgtgtcag tactgtcggg ctctgttgtt caaaggatat 36300 gtatttaaaa tccatttata ggctgggcac ggtggctcac acctgtaatc ccagcacttt 36360 gggaggccga ggcaggcaga tcacctgagg tcaggagttc gagaccagcc tggccaacat 36420 ggtgaaagcc tgtctccact aaaagcacaa aaattagctg agtgtggtgg caggcaccta 36480 taatcccagc tacatgggag gcagttgggg ccctgtactg ctggtaagaa agtggctttt 36540 tttttttctt ttgagacaga gtctcactct gtcgcccagg ctggagcgca gtggcgcgat 36600 ctcagctcgc tgcaacctcc acctcccagg ttcaagcaat tctcctgcct cagcctcccg 36660 aatagctggg attacaggcg tgcaccacta tgcctggcta atttttgtat ttttagtaga 36720 gatggggttt caccatgttg gccaggctgg tctcgaactc ctgacctcat gatccaccca 36780 ccttggtctc ccaaagggtt gagatcacag gcgtgagcca ccgtgtccgg caaaagtggc 36840 taactctctt aagtgttgtg taccatgctg tctgcagtgg caagagttag aaaaacaagg 36900 cccactccca ccccatgcac acaagtctcc ctgtgaagca tctgttgtat gcattaggtg 36960 caccttaagt agacaagttt ggaggaagaa gttgtagata ggagttgtaa agacttacct 37020 tagaccgttc aggaaatcgg agacagaaga gcttcttctg ttgggcagca ggatggtggc 37080 cagcgaggag tggaggatac atctatagca ggagaacagg aaagagtttc agcccagcag 37140 gacagagggc aaatcaactc tgttagggta agtgcatctg tgccacccca tttatttatt 37200 tagagacaca gtctcaccct gttgcccagg ctggagcgca gtggcacaat ctcacttcac 37260 tgcaacctct gccttccggg ttcaagcgat ttttgtgcct cagcctccag agtagctggg 37320 attacagatg tgcgccacca cacccagcta atttttgtat ttttagtaga gatggggttt 37380 cactatgttg gtcaggctgg tctcaaactc ctgacctcag gtgatccgct cacctcagcc 37440 tcccaaagtg ctgggattac aggtgtgagc cactgtgccc agccttaaat agtattttct 37500 gaaatgaaat gcctcattct ccttagtaaa ataaatgact aattgatggg attagtattt 37560 acactgtcaa ggccaggcgc agtggctcac acctgtaatc cgagcacttt gagaccctga 37620 ggtgggtgga tcatgaggtc aggagtttga gacaagcctg gtcaacatgg cgaaaacctg 37680 tttctattaa aaatacaaaa attagctggg cgtggtggct cacacctgta atcccagcta 37740 cttgggaagc tgaggcagga gaatcacttg agcccgagaa gcggaggttg cagtgagctg 37800 acatggcacc tctgcactcc agcctgggca acagagcaag actctgtctc aagaaaaata 37860 aagtcaagct aagtacattg tcaaaatttt tgagttggaa gcactcttat aaataatccg 37920 ttgacagggc ataatccata acctacttgc caaatcagcc cattccctgt ttttgtaaaa 37980 cccgtgtgct aagaatagct tttacatctt ggaatagtta aagtcaaaag aagaatattt 38040 catcacacat gaaaattcta tgatattcaa atttcactgt tcataaatat ttattagaac 38100 ccagaaggta agctgcgtgt agtggttcac acctgtaatc ccagcacttt gggaggctga 38160 ggtgggcgga tcatttgagg ccaggagttt gagaccagcc tgaccaacat ggtgaaacac 38220 cgtctctact aaaaatacaa aaattagctg ggcatggtgg tgcatgcctg taatcccagc 38280 tactcaggag gctgagcgaa gggaattgct tgaacctggg atgcagaggt tgcagtgagc 38340 agagatcgtg ccactgcatg cctggtgaca gagcgagact ctgtctcaaa aataataata 38400 aaataggccg ggtgcggggg ctcacgcttg taatcccaga actttgggag gctgaggcag 38460 gagggatcat gaggtcagga gtttgagacc agcctgacca acatggtgaa accccgtccc 38520 tactaaaaat acaaagatta gctgggcgtg gtgatgtgtg cctgtaatcc cagctactca 38580 ggaggctgag gcaggagaat cacttgaacc tgggaggcag aggttgcagt gagccaagat 38640 tgcaccactg cactccacct gggcgacaga gcaagactct gtctcaaaaa ataataataa 38700 aataaaataa cgtctctgtc catagtgttt aaatcacata aaatggactt ctggcagggc 38760 acggcggctc acacctgtaa tcccagcatt ttgggaggct caggtgagcg gatcgcctga 38820 ggtcaggagt tcaagatcag tctggccaac aaggtgacac cctgtctcta ctaaaaatac 38880 aaaaatcagc ccagcgcagt ggcaggtgcc tgtaatcaca gctattcagg aggctgaggc 38940 aggagaatcg gttgaaccca caaggtggaa gttgcagtga gcccagatga caccactgca 39000 cctcaacctg ggcaacagag caagaatctg tctcaaaaaa aaaaaggact tcttggtaca 39060 taacatttaa agaagcctgc atagtcacta tggccactat gtctttgaag tgccacaaca 39120 gagagaggct ctctgaaagg aaatgatact gatttgggaa tagggtatta caaggggaac 39180 acgtgtgcca gagtaaacta tgtacatatt taggaaggtg aaggaaaaca aaggttctta 39240 aaggaaaaaa tgaggattag atcactgttt taagataatt atccttggct ataaggatca 39300 atagcaaggg ggatgccatt ccaaggttag acaggcagtt gttgggcaga tgtcctcata 39360 gaagtgtttg ttgtgtaagg cggtgaaggg ctttgtgcaa ggttgagatt tttgcagtct 39420 tttgtgatca tttttattta tttatttatt tagagacaga gtcttgctct gtcacccaag 39480 ctggagggca gtgatgcaat cacagctcac tgcaacgtct gcctcctgga ttcaagaaat 39540 tctcctgtct cagcctcctt agtagctggg actacaggca tccgccacca tgcctggcta 39600 attttttgta tttttagtag agatgggatt ttgccatgtt gcccaggctg gtcttgaact 39660 cctgacctca agtgatccac ctgcctcaac cttctaaaat gctgggatta caggcatgag 39720 ccaccacgcc cggccttgtg atcatttttg ttatcaagca tttttgcatg agaatccttc 39780 atggccttcc ccagctctat ttgtcagggt tttttatttg tttgcttgtt tgtttgaagc 39840 acaagtgact ccattttgat tctgacaact tccacactat gcagtcacat ctctgaggcg 39900 cccagagccc ttcaaaatat atttgctgtt tgccaaatag tctctatttg agatgagaac 39960 atccccagct gtccttctgt ttgatgagaa gtgagactcc accccagcag cttccggaga 40020 tgcagtcatg cctccccacc cttcactgcc actcccagcc tcccttgaga ctcaaggact 40080 gtcccacggg aatgaagtga aagtgacgtc tttctccttg tttccagtct gtggtgaggg 40140 aaaacagctg gctacgcttg agagggtatg gaaactggtc agagtggtta cttgggacct 40200 ggggcctcag agccacccgt tgctaaggag aggactctgg tcagggcaac ttgccaatgc 40260 tctaggaatg acacctagac attcctaaaa aatgatagcc taaaaattca tcccattgta 40320 gaaatacagg cagcactagc ttctctgggc ccctcagtta tcaaaaaaag aggagggagg 40380 cagaccctca gggttacttt acatccatat acctagctac aacataaaca tcaaatgata 40440 tgtggccagg cgcgctggct catgcctgta atcccagcac tttgggaggc agaggcaggc 40500 agatcacttg aggtcaggag ttcgacacca gcctggccaa catggagaaa ccccgtctct 40560 actaaaaata caaaaattag ccaggcatga tggtgcatgc ctgtagttcc agctactcag 40620 taggttaagg catgagaatc gcttgaacct gggaggcgga ggttgcagtg agcaagatcg 40680 tgccactgca ctccagcctg ggctaacaga gagagactct gtctcaaaaa aaaaaacaaa 40740 acaaatcaaa acaaaaagca caacatatga tattaatgat tttccttgaa attaaatagt 40800 ggtatgagta acaatgtata ataactgtaa atattaattc aactcgtttc atttctacat 40860 tcaggtgaat aaaaatatct gatctattct ctgtgggtaa taagagtatt tttgtatctg 40920 aaaagcctaa gagagggtca aacccttaaa gagctggtaa gtccaggtag gaggaccctg 40980 aggtccttgg agatgggcag gtacaaaatt ttgcctggca taaaattcaa ttaatcaatc 41040 aaactaatgt gtttcttgac tatttacttt ctgaaatttt cctgtgaccc ttaatacaac 41100 tgtgagtacc ttcaagtgtc ctccagatcc agacacttct caagtggcca gccccatgct 41160 aactactaaa atagtggagc accagtagtc ggggctgtgg gtacattcct gtaggctgtg 41220 caccgcacaa ccccacaggt gctgttgacc taaacagaac acaaaggcac acagcaactg 41280 ctagtagtcc tgatacgtaa gccactcaag ttccaaatgc ctagtcacag aagacaaaga 41340 ctgaagaacc attccaaata ttagagacac tgcagggata tgacgactaa atgcaacgtg 41400 tgaccatggg caggatcctg ccacagaaaa atagtatttt tctttactat aaagtacatt 41460 acaggggtaa tctgaagaat ttgaataagg cacaaagtac tgtatcaatg ttaattttct 41520 gactttggca tcgtatcgca gtgatgtttg gggggaaata tacacaggat tcaagggtaa 41580 gtaaacaggc gtcacatctg cagcatgctg ccaaacattt aaaataacag accaaagcaa 41640 atgtagtaaa atgttaactt ctgggaatct gaaaggttat acaggaattc tttgtggttt 41700 ttttttgttt gtttgtttgt ttttttacag agtttcgctc tgtcgcccag gctggagtgc 41760 aatggcgggg tcttggctca ctgcaacttc cgcctcctgg gttcaagcga ttctcctgcc 41820 tcagcctccc aagtagctgg gattataggc acctgccact acgcctggct aatttttgta 41880 tttttagtag agatgggatt tcaccatgtt ggccaagctg gtcttgaact cctgacctcc 41940 ggtgatccgc ccaccttggc ctcccaaagc actgagatat aggcgtgagc accatgcctg 42000 gcctctttgt gctattttta taactctcct ggtaagtctg atgtaatttc aacataaaaa 42060 gttaatctca ggctgggcgc agtggctcac gcctgtaatc ctagcacttt gggaagttga 42120 ggtgagcaga ccgcttgagc tcaggagctc cagaccaatc tgggcaacat ggtgaaaccg 42180 tgtctctaca aaaaatacaa ttagccaggc atggtggcgt gcgtctgtag tccaagctac 42240 tcaggagact gaggagagag gatctcttga gcctaggagg cagaggttgc agtgagccga 42300 gctcacacca ctgcactcca gcctgggtga cagagccaga ccctgtctca aaaaaaaaaa 42360 aggttaattt ctaaactcac aacttccatg gtgggaggga agtacactga tcacactgaa 42420 taatgttttt ggcaccagga gtagaaactg ttggagcaca gacctgtact atagtcccag 42480 ctactcggga ggctgaggct ggagggtcac ttgagctcaa gagttccagg tcgaagtgtg 42540 caatgttcat gcctgtgaaa gccactgtac tccagcctgg gtaaaatagt gagactccat 42600 ctctttacaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaagaaag aaaaagaaac aaaagaaact gctggctggg 42660 tgcagtggtt catacctgta atcccagcac tttaggaggc tgaggtaggc agatcctttg 42720 agcccaggag ttcgagacca gcctgggtaa catggtgaaa ccccatctct acaaaacatt 42780 aacaattagc caggatgtag tggcatgcac ctgagctact tggaaggctg aggtgggagg 42840 atcgcttgag cctgggaggt ggagggtgac agagtgagac ccagtctcaa aaaaaaaaaa 42900 aaaaaaccag aaactgctgc tggaaaagag cacaatttac atcctttttg gagagctctc 42960 tggttttatg tctagacctc tggggtgggg aagaggtcaa catgctcccc aaatcaaaga 43020 cccagcactc tctacactgg cataatccat gagggtctag gcagcctgtc ctgccatact 43080 tactcaaaga aatttaaaat atcctatctg ccacagctga aagaattgaa gaggcattta 43140 ctgctatcca aaaccctaag taaaattact taagctgtga taaaagtgct acaaaaaaat 43200 gctctggcag gctctaaact tggaagtctt gtttttctta gcatggcatg ccaccttgtg 43260 gcaaaaagct aaaaagtcat cagatgagaa aggaaacatc ccttcaaaag tcatcataag 43320 aaatgccggg cacggcgcct gtaattccct gcactttggg aggccaaggc tggcggatcg 43380 cttgaggtta gaagttcgag accagcctgg ccaacatggc aaaaccccat ctctactaaa 43440 aatacaaaaa caattagcca ggcgtggtgg catgtgccta caatcccagt tacttgggag 43500 gccaaggcac gagaatggct tgaacccagg aggctgaggc tgcagtgagc cactgcactc 43560 cagcctggat gacagagtga gactctgtct caaaaaaaaa aggaaaaaaa aagcctactt 43620 gtgtgaatca cttattattt ccaggaactt tgttaagcat ttcctcagat taattctcaa 43680 acatacttac agacagggaa acagtcttgc agtcaaatag ctaataaatg gcagtgccag 43740 aataagggaa taagggagaa gtaaaccaac ctaaacttaa atccataggc ctccgagaat 43800 cccagcgccc aaaccacaac tgtctagtaa caacgcaatt ggaagaattc ttcctactgt 43860 gccctcctgc caccattttt attccccata atcaggctgg ccacaggctt ttcccaaagc 43920 cagccatgcc cacacctaaa cattttcctc tccttttgtt aattccctgt gttctatcta 43980 ttctaaagcc accatagcag cactttcccc aaattacatt tttcttttat tttttttatt 44040 ttttattttt tatttttttt tgagacagtc ttgctctgtt gcccacactg gagtacagtg 44100 gcttgatctg agctcactgc agcctctgcc tcctgggctc aagcaattct cctgcctcag 44160 catcccaagt agctgggatt acaggcatgt accaccatac ttggctaatt ttttgtattt 44220 ttagtagaga tgggtttcac tatgttggcc aggctgatct cgaactcctg acctcaagta 44280 atctgcccgc ctcggactcc caaagtactg ggagtacagg cgagagccgc tgtgcctggc 44340 cccaaattac atttttcaac atgttccagg agataaattt ccaagtctca gtaatagaaa 44400 acaccatata attgacaccc tcctcctaaa gacatacaat acacacacac acacacacac 44460 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaacctctaa gaaagaaaag aactttacag aattttaaaa 44520 aggtgttttg gagcctagtg tggtgatttg cacctctagt cccagctact caggaggctg 44580 aggcaggagg atcacttgag ctcaggaatt caagaccagc ctgggcaaca tagcaagacc 44640 cctctctaaa aaagactaag caagaaggcg gggcgcagtg ctcacgcctg taatcccaac 44700 actttgggag gccgaggcgg gtggatcacc tggggtcagg aatttgagac cagcttggcc 44760 aatatggtga aaccatgtct ctactaaaaa tacaaaaatt agccgggtag gatggtaccc 44820 acctgtaacc ccagctactc gggaggctga ggcacgagaa ccatttgaac ctgggagaca 44880 gaggttgcag tgagctgaga ttgcaccact acactccagc ctgggtgaca agagcaaaac 44940 tccatctgaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaatcaaga aataaagaaa gaaaaaacat gtttagacct 45000 agttcagccc agggtttccc aagcttcttt gacacacaca ccttttctca ggtacacctt 45060 cagggccacc agtgttctaa aagcaacttg ggaaaggtgc aactaaatct aaaaaggaga 45120 gctgagtgtg gtggtgcaca cctatagtag actgagggga ggactgcttg agccaaggag 45180 ttcaaggcag tagtgagcta taatcacacc acggcgttcc agcctgggca agagtaagac 45240 actgtaaaaa ggactccata aaaaagaaca atgaaaacaa agactcctga gttgatgttg 45300 tgactgaaaa cccttccact ggggaaaaat gtagagatca tgagttcaat gcacccatgt 45360 caaaccctct gggggctctt gctcaagggg ccaaattata tggtttgata tcatcaatct 45420 ttcagtcttc caatttcatt atgttgatgc aaatcaatgt caagtcaacg tcttgtgtat 45480 agaaatacac acacacacac acacacacac acacacacac acacatatat atatatactg 45540 gaaaaataca gcctctgggt ttttactcag tggcaacagc acaaggaata caaggatctt 45600 agagcaataa aatggaatac tctgataata ttggtccaca cacaaaaaac actcagattc 45660 aatgaccact gaatctatgt gacagcttga gaaccttagt aagggaatca catgcatttg 45720 tagatgatta ccaaagattc tgccctaact cataatattt ctaagagtgg atactaacat 45780 tatctctttt atgtttttat ttatttttta ttttctagac ggagtctcgc tttgtcaccc 45840 aagctggagt gcagttgcac gatcttggct cactgcaacc tctgcctccc gggttcaagc 45900 aattctccct gcctcagcct cccgagtagc tgggattaca ggggtgcacc accacgcctg 45960 gctaatttgt tgtattttta gtacagaccg ggtttcagta tgttggccag gctggtctcg 46020 aactcctgac ctcatgatct gcccgcctcg gcctcccaaa gtgctgggat tacaggcgtg 46080 agcccccacg cctgaccaca ttatctcttt ttttaaaatg aagaaacaga aaattaagtg 46140 atttgctcac aactaaaaaa caaattcagg gttgggtgtg gtggctcatg cctgtcaacc 46200 tagcactttg tgaggttgag gcaggtggat gtgttgagac cagttcaccc agaacagcat 46260 agtgagaccc ccgtctctac aaaaaacaac tttttttttt aatgacatgg agtcttgctc 46320 tgttgcccag actggagtgc agtggcacga ttttggctca ctgcaagctc tgcctccaag 46380 gttcacgcca ttctcttgcc tcagcctccc aagtagctgg gactacaggt gacccccacc 46440 acgcccggct aatttttttg tatttttagt acagacaggg tttcaccatg ttagccagga 46500 tggtctcgat ctcctgacct cgtgatccgc ccacctaggc ctcccaaaac attttttttt 46560 aattaaccag acataatgac acgtacctgt ggtcccagct gcttggaaag cggaggtaag 46620 aggattgcct gagctccagc atttgaaggt gcagtgagct gtggttgcac cactgcactc 46680 cagcctaggc aacagagtga gatattgtct ttaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaat tcatggcaga 46740 gtcagaaata gaaaaaaaca gccaccattt ccagtcagtc ttcagggaaa ccttcaataa 46800 ccctcacata agcattttac aagtctattt cttcttattt tataaacata actgcatctt 46860 taattgggta tacttgaata attgaaaact gaacagcaaa tcaattttta tggttcattt 46920 tctccaacaa acaacaatat taaactgtat gagaagtaat atttattgca acaggttatg 46980 aggtggaaac aaataattag tcttacaatt tgctagaagc atgacagagc ttactaacat 47040 tttgaagaaa aaacagcaaa gaaagaagtc atcaaacaag atggtatctt gacaaaggca 47100 cagcgctcca caactgcttc atactctgtg cacaagaaat cctctcaaga gagaggagag 47160 gagtgatgcc aaatgggctt acattagagc cgtggacact accactggta ttattcatac 47220 aaccaaggct ctacaacacc cctctggaga aaaagtgcaa cacaaaatct gtgtaacaaa 47280 ggaaagcaaa agtagcaata agggcccaga ggaatacaaa cagtgcaaat acagtactgc 47340 aaactcagta aaaggagttt ttgattggag tatgaacttt caagttgaag atatatttca 47400 caggaatatt cacccaaagc ttgagagcta gagcgaggag agacttgcag tcggtaactg 47460 agtagatgaa atgcataatt tttcactagg tgataattcc ctttgggaag aagtgcttta 47520 tctttaatta ttccactttt tgttaaatgg ttcatgcttt taaactgcga ttgtctcaaa 47580 cttgcttgct attgaattgt gtaacatcag ataatggcaa gttgtcaaaa gataacccca 47640 gtggatattt gaagctgctt ttacgagaag catggtgctg agctgcctta cacagtcttt 47700 ttacagtaac cataaaaaac tgagtttatt tgatcatgta ttatcccttc tcacataaag 47760 tcatattaga ggaattcttt ttaaaagaag ctttcaaact agtcctttgg gcatttaaaa 47820 aatcattata taaaagtaca cttcttcaat acataagaac aaatattttt tctttaccaa 47880 aaaaacctca tttttaggcc aaaataagtt acaacttgct gaaaaccttt tatggctcag 47940 tgctcattct agatatatga agctatattt ttttgtacat cttcagaaat cagatactga 48000 gagtggtcct tctttttttt gagagggagt ttcactttct cccccaggct agagtgcagt 48060 ggcgcaaact cagctcacta caacctctgc cccccgggtt caagcgattc tcctgcctca 48120 gcctcctagg tagttgggat tacaggcacc caccaccatg cctggctaat ttttgtattt 48180 ttagtagatg gggtttcgcc atgttggcca ggctggtctc aaacacttga cctcaagcaa 48240 tcggcccgcc tcggcctccc aaagtgctgg gattacaggc atgagccacc gtgcccagcc 48300 agagagacaa gagtggttac ttctaaaatg acaagatgat gtaaccctgg ctcagggagt 48360 agatcaagtt ctaaatctca ggaataaaaa actgatactc attatccaat tcatatagtc 48420 ttgtattata tacatattaa cagtctatgc aatgaaaaat aaagaaattt cataaaacta 48480 tttcaaaact cagaacataa aaatgtaaag aaacaaaaca tttaatgtac aatctactcc 48540 atttggcaat gtgtactgag agataaaaaa cctatctaca aacagaatat aacaaaagga 48600 aaatgtgact taagaagtga tctcaggtcc atagctcttc ggttcttcca aatttgtaga 48660 tcagagtgct agaaagatag gaaaacaaat catgaggaaa aaaccgatgg aacaagcaac 48720 acagaattca ttttctcaat atgctttgac aggtacttca ctgattccta tcaattttaa 48780 aaattaaatt agacatcatg gcagtgttgg tcttaatttg cttattttgt aaagcagtct 48840 gttaactacg atggctaagc ataactgtat tctttcttaa ggcctgggaa gttattaaca 48900 ggcaacttgt aaggaaaaga gacatttctc tatgactcag aaacaaaaaa atgaatcaat 48960 aaatcaaaag aaaaagggag agagaccatt ctcatagtga caggcattag ggccatttta 49020 tgtctccagg agcctaccat atctaaatta cagtaactga agcaccctac aacagaccat 49080 gctgcaattc ttcattcctt caacaaataa ttattgtgca ctgaaaagtg gctacgtacc 49140 aagcacctaa gtgctggggt gagactgagt ccagacaaac ttgctcccta atggagctaa 49200 gggtctaata aggagacaat caaataaata taaaattcca cctataaaaa aatgctataa 49260 atgagaggtg cacagtatcc tcagagtgaa acataaggat cagacctagt tagagaggtc 49320 aggaaaggtt ttcctgagga gtggtgactg aattgagatc caaaagaaga gggggaatta 49380 tctcggcaaa gtgagagagg ataaggaggc gggagcagag agatgggaca ctccagggcc 49440 atgagttgag ctgtgggcat actaaatgtt ttggatttga aatgtcagca acccaagaag 49500 ggatgtgaag taggaatctg gatatacggt ttaggcctgg aaagggacat ctgtgactca 49560 ctggcatata agcaataatt ggagtcctaa gtacacatga gttcacccag ggacagaaaa 49620 ataacaagga gtttcttaag gccaagaaca gctttaagag acttcaaaag gtagtaggca 49680 gggagtggag gatcagcttg caaggaaaac agaggagtga ccagagatgt aaataaaaga 49740 ggttgtaccc cagagcttag aacaggtcca gcacacagga agcatacagg ctgcctgata 49800 acttgccagc ctctgggcag agcacataga tgacacagct gtcaactatg tccacctgag 49860 catacaaggt ttctgttcat ccaattgtca tttaagtgga ttcatctacc accacaaagt 49920 gttgaatctg aacttaatct ctaaagactg cctaaaatgt cttcataaca acttaccata 49980 tccccagaag gctgtcagtc acatgtcttt gacatataag acagcagaaa ctgccaaaca 50040 tctttcaaaa ccaggagtgt caaggccaca aggcgaaatc caggtagagc atggtggtct 50100 gagagtggag ggagaccaca tggctagagt ttgccatgca gcgtacagac agccacacag 50160 agggaacgca ggagatctgc agggggtgct ccttcagtct gtggctgagt actgaagagt 50220 ctatacataa gaggaaacta cccaagggaa ggaaagaacc actggaaaga acatgtccca 50280 gagctaccac aaggctggaa gagagttcat actctcacaa gtcgagtaga gaaacctcgg 50340 aatacatgaa gcatcagaga gtggaaacac tcaaagggta tgactgcctt agtaggggga 50400 caaatcagtc ctgggctaca gctgctctgg tcctgcctat aacaaagctt aagagacata 50460 aaaggatcaa attgtttctg attgtttctg agtcacctaa ctgcatccca aaacaaagct 50520 taaaaacatt taaaggacta gcaaagatcc agtcccaaca aattgtatgc aaagcaccaa 50580 ataagggaaa ataggtccaa aatgaagagt aaacagaagc agaaaaaatc agtagaagca 50640 gatgcagaaa tgacacagac aattggacaa ggaccctgag atagctataa atatactctg 50700 tgtgttcaag gtggaagagg gcatgagcat gttaagggaa gacatcagaa atatttttaa 50760 agacccaatc aagcttctag agagagaaaa tacaatgtct gagatgaaaa aatcattgga 50820 tggcatagat tagacattgc agaagtagag attaatttat ttaattcttc aaagtgacaa 50880 tagagagatt aattttattt atttatgtat ttatttattt tgagatgaag tctcgctctg 50940 ttgctcagca atggtgtgat ctcagctcac tgcaacctca gcctcccggg ttcaagtgat 51000 tctctggcct cagccttccg agtagctggg attccaggca tgcaccacca tgcccagcta 51060 atgtctgtat ttttagtaga gatgaggttt caccatgttg gccaggctgg tctcgaactc 51120 ctgacctcaa gtgatccacc cgccttggcc tcccaaagtg ttgagattac aggtgtgagc 51180 caccatgccc agccgagatt aattttaaaa tgtaacaata gaaactatcc aaactgaaac 51240 acaaacagga aaaaaaaatc tgaccattag caagctgtga gacaacttcg agcagcctat 51300 tataacctgt aattgaaatc ccagagggag ggtgcagtgg atacaaaaaa tgcttgaaga 51360 aataatggct gagaagaatc tagatttatt gatgaactat aaacctatag atccaagaaa 51420 ctcaatatac accaagcaga aggaatatca agaaaactag accacagtac atcgtaatca 51480 aattacttaa aaccagtgac aaaagcaaag tttttcaagg cttagaagtt acttaatgat 51540 ttatggggga tggggacaga ggcagataaa attttataaa tatataccta aatatcctat 51600 gttgacatta aaagacattc attctaggct gggcatggtg gctcacacct gtaatcctac 51660 cactttggga ggctgaggtg ggcagatcac ttgaggtcag gagttcgaga ccggcctggt 51720 caacatggca aaaccccatc tctactaaaa atacaaaaat tagctgggtg tggcagtgca 51780 tgcctgtaat cccagctact tgggaggctg aggcacggaa ttgcttgagc ctgggaggca 51840 gaggttgcat tgagctgaga ttgcaccact gcacatcagc ctgggcaaca gagcgagaat 51900 ccagctcaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaagacat tcattctaaa aagcatagaa tggacttcat 51960 tttggggata ttttagaaga ctgcccctaa aaaatacttt taatattggt ttatttttcc 52020 acttacttta acttttctta aaagggcatt cagaaaacag aatttcccaa caggttttgt 52080 atataatatg catactatgt attaattatt attattattt tgatatggag tcttgctctg 52140 tcacccaagc tgaaatgcag tggcactatc tcgactcact ccaacccccg tgtctcctgg 52200 gttcaagtgg ttctcctgcc tcagccttcc gagtagctgg gattacaggc acacaccacc 52260 atgcccgact aatgtttgta tttttattag agatggggtt tcaccatgtt ggccaggctg 52320 gtctcgaacc cctgacctca gatgatccac ccacttcagc ctcccaaagt gctgggatta 52380 cagacatgag ccaccacacc tggctggcca ctaggtatta attctggttt ttcctttttt 52440 cttcataaag gtactttacc tgttgttgtt aatttttttt ttcccgaaag gctagtcaag 52500 tgaaacaatg ggtctgatag ggttttttaa taagacacag gctatggaag cagcagtctg 52560 gattcaaatc caggcttctc atttactagc taggcatcct aaagcaagcc ctaaacttta 52620 tttcctcatc tataaaatgg gaataacact gggtgtggtg gctataatcc cagcactttg 52680 ggaggccgag gcaggcaaat tgtctgagct caggagttcg agaccactct gggcaatatg 52740 gtgaaacctc gtctctacta aaatacaaaa aattagctgg gtgtggtggt gtgcacctgt 52800 agtcccacct actcgggagg ctgaggcatg ggaatcgcct gagtcccgag gcggaggctg 52860 cagtgagccg agattgttcc actgcactaa ggcagcttgg gctacagggt gagactccct 52920 cgcaaaaaat aaataaataa ataaaaataa aaataaataa aatgggaata acacctgaca 52980 tatatttaaa ataattaaat gcattatttt attttatttt ggtctcactc tattgcccag 53040 gctggagtac agtggtgcag ccttgcctca ctgcagcctc aacctcctcg gctcaagcaa 53100 tcctcccacc tcagcctctt gagtagctgg cactgtacac caccacaacc agataatttt 53160 tatatttttt tatagagaca gggttttgcc atgttgccca ggctggtctt aaactcctag 53220 acttaagcaa tccacccact tcagcctccc aaagtgctgg gattacaggc atgagccaca 53280 gcacttggcc taaatgtgaa ttcaaagggt aaaatatata aaggatccag ctaaagtctt 53340 gatacacagc aagacctcta gttaaaaggc ctctctgctc ttatgtaaca gtggaattct 53400 caccttttaa aagaagttct atcattgtaa ccaatccatg ggatttatat gtgttccata 53460 tatatgctgc cttaattaag ttgacatttc tgtaaatgtt acaggcgtgg ttaaaaaata 53520 aggcaactta cctaaaaaat ataagtgcat tttgaaaaaa cacagctagt cccggataaa 53580 catcagtatc tacatacaca aagtaaaaca gattagacgg ttatataggc aaacggcagt 53640 aataaagtat cagtgccatt cataatgata cattttgtat attacaacat actgctatta 53700 ttcattaact gtaagacatc tataatgaaa ctgaaagaag aaaatgccaa tttaattccc 53760 ccaaagcaaa ggactgctct tactctggat aaaagtcaat gaacttacaa agttttcttt 53820 tagtcaaagt aattgctggt tctagctaca tcaaaactgc tgaggaagca gtaacttgct 53880 cctttgcctc ctatggccaa cactgaaatg caaaatcgta aaaacataca aaataaattc 53940 ttgactttta aacagtctgt taatttattt tctttcatga attcaagagg ttttttgtgt 54000 12 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 12 catattaagc tttcaactct 20 13 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 13 agtcgaaatg tttgctttaa 20 14 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 14 attcgaggat tcgccccttt 20 15 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 15 ttgatcgcac aattcgagga 20 16 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 16 cgatccttcc ggaagggccc 20 17 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 17 ggcctcccag agcgcggagc 20 18 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 18 tcttcgggtg ctgaggagcg 20 19 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 19 aggacctgct ctgcgttgta 20 20 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 20 ccactggctc ccaactcagg 20 21 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 21 gtagacaaca ggcctcgtgc 20 22 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 22 actgtcggtg tatttaaact 20 23 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 23 tgtcggccgt gaaccattta 20 24 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 24 aattcacccc tatggacatg 20 25 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 25 tgttgctgtg atctgtgtac 20 26 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 26 acactctgtt gctgtgatct 20 27 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 27 gaagtcacac tctgttgctg 20 28 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 28 aaatccattg ggaagcctgc 20 29 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 29 gaaggcgtag agtgacattg 20 30 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 30 gctcccagct cagctcgaag 20 31 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 31 gaatggagtg ctcccagctc 20 32 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 32 tgtcacccag gcagaatgga 20 33 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 33 tagtgttgaa accaaggcat 20 34 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 34 ccgacagtca cattccgata 20 35 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 35 cacctcaatg ttttctggag 20 36 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 36 aaggccgtgg aggtatcagc 20 37 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 37 cctccttttt cccagtaatg 20 38 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 38 gggcctttga cctgttggat 20 39 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 39 agttatccaa tgaaatggag 20 40 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 40 gtacactctg gagggtttta 20 41 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 41 ctggacttgt aaacagtaca 20 42 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 42 cttttgttcc aaagcagttg 20 43 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 43 actctaaaga tgttactttt 20 44 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 44 cgactctaaa gatgttactt 20 45 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 45 taaatgcccg actctaaaga 20 46 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 46 ttgcttaaat gcccgactct 20 47 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 47 ttgtttcgta gcaagatatg 20 48 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 48 ctcagtggag gcatctgcca 20 49 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 49 ttgctgaagc tcagtggagg 20 50 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 50 gaaaatgttc ccacggagat 20 51 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 51 cgacagcaac gaaaatgttc 20 52 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 52 caggctcctg ccagcaccga 20 53 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 53 taatgggatg cttggtggag 20 54 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 54 taaatactct tctatctgta 20 55 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 55 tctaagatgg gctgagttgg 20 56 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 56 cgtcatcctt tggtgagctg 20 57 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 57 aatggacaca gagtcccaga 20 58 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 58 cgagataatg gacacagagt 20 59 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 59 catgctttgg ttcaaagcgt 20 60 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 60 agtgggctag gcccatgctt 20 61 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 61 ctcttccagg gagccagtgg 20 62 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 62 gcttgatctc ttccagggag 20 63 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 63 actctagcag ctccgatggc 20 64 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 64 ggcagcaaaa gggaatactg 20 65 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 65 ctctcatgtc tgcagggaca 20 66 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 66 tgtcaccccc atgagacctg 20 67 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 67 ttttgaaaat tctttaagaa 20 68 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 68 caagcaatta catgcctttt 20 69 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 69 agtatcagag atgtgtcata 20 70 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 70 ttctgactgc tcagcccaac 20 71 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 71 tcaagacgac gaccaggtct 20 72 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 72 ccaaagtcaa gacgacgacc 20 73 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 73 gccactcagt gtccctcgct 20 74 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 74 tgtacatgaa gggccactca 20 75 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 75 catggatgta catgaagggc 20 76 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 76 ttttaagcca gcacaccatg 20 77 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 77 gattaattac attttaagcc 20 78 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 78 atatttacaa gattaattac 20 79 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 79 tcactgggcc ctttctaact 20 80 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 80 cctccttcac tgggcccttt 20 81 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 81 tagaaatgct ggaagtttct 20 82 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 82 gccggctcca gggcaaaccc 20 83 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 83 ttgggtgaca gagagagact 20 84 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 84 aagttattct aattggatgg 20 85 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 85 ttcttagagt gtagaacaac 20 86 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 86 gaggaacaaa tgtaggaact 20 87 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 87 cctgggcgac agtgcaagac 20 88 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 88 gctctgtcac ccaggctgat 20 89 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 89 tctcttgcat cagcctctca 20 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound 8 to 50 nucleobases in length targeted to a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interferon gamma receptor 2, wherein said compound specifically hybridizes with and inhibits the expression of Interferon gamma receptor
 2. 2. The compound of claim 1 which is an antisense oligonucleotide.
 3. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide has a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76 or
 86. 4. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage.
 5. The compound of claim 4 wherein the modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage.
 6. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified sugar moiety.
 7. The compound of claim 6 wherein the modified sugar moiety is a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar moiety.
 8. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified nucleobase.
 9. The compound of claim 8 wherein the modified nucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine.
 10. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is a chimeric oligonucleotide.
 11. A compound 8 to 50 nucleobases in length which specifically hybridizes with at least an 8-nucleobase portion of an active site on a nucleic acid molecule encoding Interferon gamma receptor
 2. 12. A composition comprising the compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
 13. The composition of claim 12 further comprising a colloidal dispersion system.
 14. The composition of claim 12 wherein the compound is an antisense oligonucleotide.
 15. A method of inhibiting the expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2 in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues with the compound of claim 1 so that expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2 is inhibited.
 16. A method of treating an animal having a disease or condition associated with Interferon gamma receptor 2 comprising administering to said animal a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 so that expression of Interferon gamma receptor 2 is inhibited.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the disease or condition is an autoimmune disorder.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the autoimmune disorder is autoimmune thyroiditis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune arthritis, autoimmune insulinitis or Crohn's disease.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the disease or condition is cancer.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein the disease or condition is caused by aberrant apoptosis. 